— Anonymous
Fuenteovejuna is a play based on the uprising of villagers who fight back against their violent commander. The play mainly surrounds the relationship between the commander and his villagers. There are multiple occasions throughout the play where he abuses his power and takes control of the villagers’ freedom. He creates disharmony and reflects to modern society how people today are still treated in the same fashion. Throughout the play, the commander forces his will against the villagers and decides what is right for them while imposing his thoughts/ideas to them. His attitude in the play gives Laurencia, a villager, a bad outlook on men as well as the concept of love. She sees men as those who are nice at first but will take control when she lets her guard down; she lost respect for men and lost her perception of true love by the examples shown by the monarch. People in society today also lose touch with their ability to trust due to a force controlling their lives. It could be a teacher, a parent, or even a lover; people in today’s society still experience the same feelings as the villagers did. In today’s society, there is a huge exposure to people having a lack of trust and understanding how love should be viewed. Despite living in a new society and different times, people do not change. The commander is no different than an abusive husband, a dictator, and even that forceful friend who pushes someone to go to a late night party. I believe Fuenteovejuna is a great work of literature that helps readers understand how a lack of compassion and understanding bites back at those who don’t show it. Fuenteovejuna is a reminder to society today that there is no order when there is no honor in embracing others.
