Miguel Mihura's Three Hats: Absurdity, Love, and Conformity

Introduction to Three Hats

Three Hats is the title of the first and most famous work by Miguel Mihura. Although written in 1932, it was not premiered until 1952.

Act One: A Night of Unexpected Encounters

The action takes place over one night in a hotel room in a small provincial capital. The protagonist, Dionysus, is spending his last night as a bachelor, as the next day he is to marry Margarita, a local woman whom we do not see throughout the play. He is marrying not for love, but because, as he states, "everyone marries at age 27." Unexpectedly, members of a variety show company enter his room. Notably, Paula, a young dancer, falls in love with Dionysus, who is completely bewildered by the unusual situation.

Act Two: Unveiling Intentions and Desires

In the second act, it is revealed that the artists' appearance was not so casual. While Dionysus may have fallen for Paula, Paula's love for Dionysus stems from her perception of his ingenuity and sincerity, and, more selfishly, the possibility of starting a new, more authentic life than the one she is forced to live.

Act Three: Confronting Conformity

In the final act, the bride's father, grotesquely named Don Sacramento, arrives. Out of fear of novelty, Dionysus ultimately accepts a marriage that condemns him to a gray and routine life of frustration. The play concludes with Dionysus leaving the room, led towards his wedding by the grotesque Don Rosario, while Paula bids him a poignant farewell.

Style and Themes in Three Hats

The play is characterized by language full of wit, humorous wordplay, and absurd situations.

Stereotypical Characters and Their Roles

The secondary characters often lack individual personality, serving instead as simple stereotypes. These include:

• The "hateful man," who carries a pocket full of items to give to artists, which he 're-saves' if the girl doesn't accept them or if he has already achieved his desired outcome.
• The "cunning hunter," who appears uninvited at the impromptu party.
• Don Rosario, the pension owner, who lies to customers about their fever to keep them warm.

Symbolism of the Three Hats and Conclusion

The play's title, Three Hats, is symbolic. When the action begins, Dionysus is trying on three hats. Later, in conversation with Paula, he claims to be living a tightrope act, juggling with hats. The play concludes with Dionysus unable to make any decisive choices. Paula is left alone in the room, and in a poignant moment, she performs a final act: "and suddenly, when it seems that she is going to be sentimental, she puts her hats in the air and releases the joyful cry of the track: Hoop! She smiles, waves, and the curtain falls."