The play often uses animal characterizations to suggest that some of the men in the play adopt a predator-prey relationship with women. The Commander is often likened to a “beast” or a “wolf,” indicating how he preys on the women in town, particularly Laurencia. Even Flores, the Commander’s servant, is described as a “falcon,” indicating how he, too, is like a bird of prey in procuring women for the Commander.
Likewise, the play aligns its female characters with animals that are commonly hunted, like birds, deer, and rabbits. For example, Laurencia is described as a “young bird” and compared to a “deer” and a “hare.” All of these animals suggest Laurencia’s innocence and the fact that she is being preyed upon by the Commander. The comparison of Laurencia to a hare is particularly notable, as the hare was a Medieval symbol for the vagina—further stressing that the Commander is in pursuit of sexual conquest.
On the other hand, Frondoso notes that he and Laurencia will be like turtle-doves when they marry—another symbolic description, as turtle-doves have the reputation of being faithful and are associated with love. Unlike the Commander, whose descriptions clearly indicate his chase of Laurencia, Frondoso shows his respect for Laurencia by portraying them as equals in love.
Animals Quotes in Fuente Ovejuna
COMMANDER: I’m talking to you, my pretty creature,
And to your friend. You belong to me,
Do you not?
PASCUALA: We do, my lord, but not
In the way you mean.
COMMANDER: Step inside. My men are there. Don’t be afraid.
LAURENCIA: I shall if the magistrates come too. One of them’s my father, but otherwise…
COMMANDER: Flores!
FLORES. Yes, sir?
COMMANDER: Why aren’t they doing what
I say?
FLORES: Get in there!
LAURENCIA: Get your hands
Off us!
FLORES: Come on, you stupid girls!
PASCUALA: Whoa now! For you to lock the stable-door?
FLORES: Inside! He wants to show you all
The spoils of war.
LAURENCIA: So God go with you
In the hunt, sir... I mean for deer.
If it weren’t for that cross upon
Your chest, I’d take you for the devil, such
Is your pursuit of me!
COMMANDER: Such language is
Offensive! I’ll put my bow aside
And let my hands overcome those airs
And graces!
JUAN ROJO: So what do you think
The town should do?
ALDERMAN. The town should die,
Or kill these tyrants. We are many, they
Are few.
BARRILDO: Take arms against our overlord?
ESTEBAN. In the eyes of God the King alone
Is our lord, not men like these,
No better than wild animals.
If God is on our side, why should we be
Afraid?
When Fernán Gómez took
Me off, you let him do it, just
As shepherds stand and watch the wolf
Which steals their sheep! They threatened me
With knives, abused me with their words,
Did everything they could to force
My chastity to their foul desires!
You see my hair? You see these marks,
These cuts and bruises? These stains of blood?
Do you believe thot you are men
Of honour? Do you believe you are
True fathers? How can you see me here
And not feel all the pain I feel pierce
Your very souls?
Animals Symbol Timeline in Fuente Ovejuna
