Refiguring the Hero

Refiguring the Hero, Volume 1, is a scholarly work of literary criticism that examines the social significance of Spain's Golden Age plays. Author Dian Fox analyzes the works of Lope de Vega and Pedro Calderón de la Barca, focusing on the concept of heroism within seventeenth century European drama. The text evaluates whether the common man truly achieved heroic status in these plays or if the narratives remained aligned with the social hierarchies of the era.

This study of Spanish and Portuguese literature challenges the common view that peasant honor plays were socially subversive or democratic. By placing these works within a broader European context, the author argues that heroism in serious drama was typically reserved for socially superior characters. Refiguring the Hero provides a critical perspective on how modern readers interpret the violent actions of peasants compared to the historical standards of the Spanish Golden Age.