The theme of honor lies at the heart of Lope de Vega's "Fuente Ovejuna" and Tirso de Molina's "The Trickster of Seville." In fact, the chief protagonists of the two plays, Commendador Fernan Gomez and Don Juan possess the common sin of dishonoring young women. While they are considered "honorable" in aristocratic circles because of their fighting prowess or their ranking, they both abuse the high esteem or the honor generally associated with their titles. However, the issue of honor does not only involve men in aristocratic circles. For a woman, honor is associated with guarding her virginity. Yet, the connotation of the word "honor" also refers to the integrity of character of every individual regardless of gender or position. The comparison of these two plays will illuminate the complete definition of the word "honor."
In "Fuente Ovejuna," Fernan Gomez has usurped the meaning of "honor" when he demands to be honored by his superior, the Master of the Order. Although most people consider honor to be something that is earned, Fernan Gomez reverses this idea by defining his own conception of the word: "It is but my due/That you should honor me: I risked my life/On your behalfà" (1.69). By his constant proclamation of his own greatness, Fernan Gomez shows that he is arrogant man who has no respect for others.
He has no consideration for the honor of the women in the town he rules. In his mind, they belong to him. However, Laurencia who cares about her honor has eluded his attempts to seduce her (1.89-90). Although he is frustrated with her unwillingness to surrender to him, he is contemptuous of the women who have sex with him: "They don't know/The value of a decent reputation" (2.98). Although he recognizes the importance of honor for women, he also seeks to destroy it.
A woman's conscientiousness in guarding her virginity and governing her sexual behavior features in both of the plays. However, in this play, a woman's ho...