Why was Segismundo imprisoned in Life is a Dream?

A horoscope predicted that Segismundo would become a cruel and tyrannical king, so King Basilio, his father, ordered him imprisoned in a tower.

How does Segismundo end the play?

After the King is defeated by the people, Segismundo shows his humanity by forgiving his father.

Life is a Dream: Plot Summary and Analysis of Segismundo

Summary

This study guide summarizes the plot of Calderón's Life is a Dream, from Segismundo's imprisonment in a tower to the King's test and the final confrontation. It analyzes Segismundo's character, his transformation from instinctive rebellion to wisdom, and the play's themes of appearance versus reality.

Key points

Segismundo, Prince of Poland, was imprisoned in a tower because a horoscope predicted he would become a cruel and tyrannical king.
King Basilio tests his son by having him drugged, brought to the palace, and treated as a prince, with the outcome deciding whether he becomes heir or returns to the tower.
Segismundo fails the test: he threatens Clotaldo, is uncivil to Estrella, and kills a servant for contradicting him.
The people see Segismundo as their deliverer, leading to a confrontation with the King, who is defeated.
Segismundo ultimately shows his humanity by forgiving his father.
The comparison of life with a dream relates to the themes of appearance versus reality and the inconsistency of life.

Test yourself

The Plot of Life is a Dream

The plot of Life is a Dream is as follows: when Segismundo, Prince of Poland, was born, a horoscope predicted that he would become a cruel and tyrannical king. To avoid this, King Basilio, his father, ordered him imprisoned in a tower. As the play begins, the King hesitates and decides to put his son to a test: he sends for a drugged Segismundo to be brought to the palace and orders that, upon awakening, he be treated as a prince.

The King's Test and the Tower

If his conduct is prudent and virtuous, the King will appoint him his heir; if, on the contrary, he shows himself to be arrogant and violent, he will be locked back in the tower. His noble guardian, Clotaldo, will then persuade him that everything was merely a dream.

The test result is negative: Segismundo threatens Clotaldo, faces the noble Astolfo, is uncivil to Estrella, and ends up killing a servant just because he was contradicted.

Conflict and Resolution

He reacts as he has been treated: like an animal. Consequently, he is locked away again. However, the King cannot prevent the people from learning the truth; they see Segismundo as their deliverer, leading to a confrontation with the monarch. Although the King is defeated, Segismundo ultimately displays his humanity by forgiving his father. The comparison of life with a dream relates to the themes of appearance versus reality and the inherent inconsistency of life.

Character Analysis: Segismundo

Segismundo: The protagonist and son of King Basilio. He is the Prince of Poland, imprisoned by his father due to dark omens. His character presents a wealth of nuances:

He is a complete man who suffers an unjust penalty without knowing his crime, leading him to rebel.
He symbolizes the human condition through his "monstrous" nature, composed of opposites.

The Human Condition and Transformation

From the beginning, Segismundo reacts based on his limited upbringing and instincts. When he wakes in the palace, he is guided by a utilitarian morality, seeking to seize the moment and being carried away by anger and confusion. Only after gaining wisdom through experience does a change occur; he dominates the animal within and behaves like a true human being.

One might defend his actions by noting that since childhood he has been locked in a tower without committing any crime; therefore, it can cause occasional mental disorder. It is very likely for him to act erratically, especially since he has never seen the outside world before.