Fuente Ovejuna

In Lope de Vega’s play Fuente Ovejuna he focuses on honor. One way he concentrates on honor is through Laurencia and through her speech. She is a peasant-women and the daughter of Esteban, the magistrate. Honor is discussed in numerous ways in this text. Vega uses characters with different viewpoints on honor and whom they should be honoring to show his readers how he feels about honor. Laurencia takes honor very seriously. Laurenica has pride in herself and how she should be treated as a woman and a daughter. Laurenica believes honor is something people should have, use and value no matter their gender or socioeconomic status.
Laurencia was a peasant but not your standard peasant. She is a strong willed, independent and opinionated, things

that would not ordinarily describe a peasant. Her socioeconomic status does not affect her self worth. From reading the play the reader can gather that there is something else extraordinary about Laurencia because the Commander is constantly pursuing her in a sexual way. She is persistent at denying the Commander, which leads Vega’s reader to the conclusion that he values her because he does not force himself on Laurencia like he habitually has done to other women. Laurencia does not hold her tongue when things around her are not appropriate from her perspective. She believes women can handle tasks just as efficiently as men can, and does aid in several scenes at the side of men. Laurencia says on line 225, “Pascuala, I’m going in. What us is any sword still in its scabbard?” and then on line 243 she says, “…Come! Stain your weapons with the blood of these vile men!” These two quotes show how passionate Laurencia was about honoring what was right and wrong, and punishing those who have not been honorable but also not letting her gender stand in the way.
During Laurencia’s great speech is when she makes her beliefs on honor very evident to the reader. Laurencia declares that her father is inadequate to be a man of honor. Laurenica thinks a “man of honor” is someone who protects who they are assumed to be responsible for. She sees honor as something people owe one another. Her father owed her honor and protection, which she did not get. Laurencia proclaims that since she had no yet married Frodonso, her father was responsible for her maltreatment and should be rightly punished for allowing it to happen. This is where we can tell that Laurencia thinks everyone should want to be honorable to others, but she recognizes often times they are not.
She is undoubtedly angered by her father’s lack of defense for her. In Laurencia’s speech she divulges exactly how she feels about being overlooked by someone that is suppose to be a man of honor, and also her father. Laurencia begins her speech confronting her father, Esteban, for leaving her to save herself and for not seeking revenge on the “traitors” although it was his duty. She goes on to present her wounds and ask if they believe that they are “true men of honor”.
She continues in her speech by comparing herself and situation to being a cub taken by a hunter, except her father did not pursue her like a tiger would have.

Laurencia compares Esteban to timid hares, and barbarians and insults him by saying their swords are “ornaments that serve no purpose.” This was a very insulting comment coming from his daughter and it probably made him question weather or not he was an honorable man after all. This is all done so that Laurenica can show Esteban how he has wronged her. She compares him to animals to belittle him She goes on to say that they should be stoned for their lack of actions and calls them “men who are not

men”.
Towards the end of Laurencia’s speech she goes in a different direction, she begins taunting and teasing Esteban. On line 119 she says, “ …cowards who would look better dressed in our skirts and bonnets, rouge on your cheeks and lipstick on your lips!” This is an exceedingly harsh insult for a man who would typically consider it his job to protect and ensure justice. Laurencia is probably questioning why her father, the magistrate, cannot even guarantee justice for his own daughter.
Lastly, Laurencia ends her speech saying she would rejoice if they were hung and ends with saying “and once again we’ll see that age return where there were women who were strong, true Amazons…” She is telling Esteban that even though she is a woman it does not mean she will depend on him any longer. She says eventually women will become strong and powerful again. Laurencia does not think that she is inadequate because she is a woman. Before her speech she barged in on what she said was a “meeting for men.” Laurencia does not mind to interrupt and put her judgment where she sees suitable even if it means it is a meaning she would not typically be invited to.
The Commander does have values but they are different from those of the peasants.

The people of Fuente Ovejuna that are “higher up” than the peasants go along with the Commander even when they know he is doing something corrupt. In the book it depicts Fernán Gómez as being known for pushing himself on women that do not want to be involved with him. He repeatedly attempts to pursue Laurencia because of how beautiful she is. The first time Laurencia turns down the Commander’s request to be with her is on page 19 when he asks her and Pascuala to come in and they decline. The Commander becomes outraged and asks Flores “why aren’t they doing what I say?” Flores responds by grabbing the women even though it does not say so Vega portrays this by Laurenica saying “Get your hands off us!” Laurencia and Pascuala end up not being taken away by Flores and before exiting Laurencia says, “Let’s hope he chokes!” talking about the Commander. This is the first time Vega shows the Commander trying to use his status to have power over Laurencia. She does not care who he is; she values herself as a woman and refuses to let him tell her what to do. The way she reacts to the Commander’s request shows how she honors herself as a woman and even as a peasant, because most peasant women jump at the opportunity to gain attention from the Commander even if they have to do debatable

things.
After a series of different encounters between the Commander and Laurencia she no longer sees him as an honorable man. When the peasants finally come together and the Commander is killed Laurenica and the others still show throughout how much honor means to them. She is a prideful character and in some situations comes across as disrespectful to her authority but only for fair reason. When they were tortured and asked who committed this crime they all stuck together by answering with “Fuente Ovejuna!” By not conspiring against one another it shows how much they loyalty and honor they have for each other and their community. Even when they were presented in front of the King and Queen and asked why they have committed this crime they answered explaining why they felt it was necessary. Esteban says to the King, “Your Majesty, we wish to be your loyal vassals…” this quote shows their commitment to Fuente Ovejuna and their “rightful King.” The peasants of Fuente Ovejuna are not opposed to leadership and guidance but they show they are against having a corrupt leader that shows he is not honorable to his people and lets his power go to his head.
This whole speech is delivered in what seems like a fit of rage. You picture her shouting her entire speech without taking a breath trying to get her point of how dishonorable Esteban has acted. From her performance during her speech Vega is showing his readers how seriously she takes people acting with honor. She does not see her being a woman or being a peasant as an excuse for her not to stand up for herself. She also does not approve of the Commander trying to take advantage of her just because of her socioeconomic status and her gender. She sees him as abusing his power and is always adamant about where she stands as a person of honor and values.