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The theatrical representation of Egilona, the last Visigoth queen, in 18th and 19th century Spanish drama serves as a lens for exploring the construction of female protagonism in the context of fashioning Spanish national identity. Portrayals of Egilona underwent significant transformation, reflecting broader societal changes and the rise of liberal ideologies, while revealing persistent patriarchal constraints. Plays by Trigueros, Valladares de Sotomayor, and Vargas y Ponce demonstrate Egilona's character evolution from a marginal historical figure to a symbol of Christian resilience and Spanish power. These dramatic works contributed to shaping collective memory and negotiating Spain's complex relationship with its Muslim past, illustrating the role of theater in national mythmaking and identity formation.
La representación teatral de Egilona, la última reina visigoda, en el drama español de los siglos XVIII y XIX sirve como lente para explorar la construcción del protagonismo femenino y la construcción de la identidad nacional en España. Las representaciones de Egilona experimentaron una transformación significativa, reflejando cambios sociales más amplios y el auge de las ideologías liberales, mientras revelaban restricciones patriarcales persistentes. Obras de Trigueros, Valladares de Sotomayor y Vargas y Ponce demuestran la evolución del personaje de Egilona de una figura histórica marginal a un símbolo de resistencia cristiana y poder español. Estas obras dramáticas contribuyeron a dar forma a la memoria colectiva y a negociar la compleja relación de España con su pasado musulmán, ilustrando el papel del teatro en la creación de mitos nacionales y la formación de identidad.
The theatrical representation of the last known Visigoth Queen, within the context of the "Reconquista narrative," serves as a crucial lens through which to examine the social construction of female protagonism in shaping Spanish collective memory and national identity. This article argues that the portrayal of women in Spanish historical drama, particularly in plays centered on the "loss and restoration of Spain," underwent a significant transformation, particularly in the late eighteenth to the mid-nineteenth centuries. This shiftmirrors broader societal changes, including the rise of liberal ideologies, while simultaneously revealing the persistent constraints of patriarchal structures and nationalist narratives.
A review of plays developing the theme of "loss and restoration of Spain" reveals a common tendency: many of them feature male characters as the central figures in the plot, largely...