Abstract
Discover the classic romantic melodrama Hernani, set in 16th-century Spain, where love, loyalty, and power collide. This 1830 play by Victor Hugo explores the complexities of the human heart through the story of Hernani, a brave and dreamy brigand, and his love for Dona Sol, a young noblewoman. With its beautiful writing, memorable characters, and historical significance, Hernani is a must-read for literature enthusiasts.
Extract
[...] Hernani Hernani is a romantic melodrama set in Spain in 1519. It is primarily a love story, with four main protagonists: a very young noblewoman, Dona Sol de Silva, and three suitors, Don Carlos, the king himself, Don Ruy Gomez de Silva, her uncle the duke, and Hernani, a brigand. His love, reciprocated, for Dona Sol is thwarted by an arranged marriage with her uncle. The king, who, following the emperor's death, is a candidate for the succession, and Hernani both try to court her, but it is the brigand who has the favor of Dona Sol. [...]
[...] The edition I used is that of Classiques Larousse, Presented by Denis Canal. This version dates from 1991 and has a concise, clear, and well-structured explanatory apparatus, presenting the biography of Victor Hugo, the historical and artistic context, with a whole section dedicated to the Battle of Hernani. Short pages of literary analysis also punctuate the scenes of the play, which allowed me to better understand the dynamics at play at each moment of the story, but especially to put the dramatic devices used in their historical perspective. [...]
[...] Meanwhile, the king, taking refuge in the tomb of Charlemagne, prepares for the attempts on his life by hiding, and eventually confronts his two enemies. Hernani reveals his true identity: Jean d'Aragon, of noble rank. The king is very angry, but Dona Sol implores his mercy. This works, and the monarch grants pardon to the two conspirators, and even permission to Hernani to marry his lover. This act of generosity provokes the anger of Don Ruy Gomez, who feels betrayed. [...]
[...] This play is a great romantic drama and its hero, Hernani, is a perfect representative of the genre. He possesses several characteristics typical of romantic heroes. He is brave and dreamy, but it is above all his passionate and unique love for Dona Sol that characterizes him. He is also a figure of a pariah, excluded from society: a small brave man against great powerful ones. His love is tragic, since to reach it, he must pay the price of his life. [...]
[...] This romantic melodrama aims to be a reflection of life in all its beauty, absurdity, and grotesqueness. In this, I found the work successful, as it combines a certain lyricism in the monologues with a mastered art of rhythm and plot twists. I particularly enjoyed the character of Dona Sol. While she remains primarily characterized by her love for Hernani, Victor Hugo gave her a central role in the plot: it is around her that the three men revolve. In the end, she is the one who takes control of her destiny, going against what the male protagonists expected or hoped for her. [...]
