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REVIEWS Mackenzie, Ann L. Francisco de Rojas Zorrilla y Agustín Moreto: análisis. Hispanic Studies TPAC, 8. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1994. 261 pp. 25.00 cased, 15.00 paper. The Hispanic world welcomes this informative study oftwo Golden Age dramatists who unfortunately have been neglected for more than a score of years. It is the first extensive analysis of Rojas Zorrilla since MacCurdy's work in the fifties and sixties, and the first close review of Moreto's corpus of dramas since Castañeda's Twayne volume. Furthermore, while a number of excellent articles have appeared recently on El desdén con el desdén by Exum, Blue, Howe, Lobato, Norden and others, Moreto's serious drama has been woefully neglected; and virtually nothing at all has appeared on Rojas Zorrilla. Mackenzie's succinct and clearly-written survey rectifies the dearth of material with cogent summaries and analyses of the major works ofboth authors. The study approaches the plays genetically, analysing the drama serioseglar and the comedia de costumbresy defigurón ofboth authors, plus the comediapalaciega ofMoreto (limited specifically to Lo quepuede la aprehensi ón, El poder de la amistad, and El desdén con el desdén). The first genre is perhaps the most significant for this book, because it is where all critics agree that Rojas Zorrilla created his best works with exaggerated, grotesque, and abnormal protagonists in macabre situations who come to violent ends, as with the participants in El Caín de Cataluña, No ha serpadre siendo rey, and El mas impropio verdugo por la másjusta venganza. It is also where one finds the most extravagant female personages in Golden Age drama, like Rosimunda in Morirpensando matar, Lucrecia in Lucrecia y Targuino and, to a lesser extent, Isabel in Cada cual lo que le toca and Filomena in Progney Filomena. As for Moreto, the drama serio-seglar is an area where Mackenzie maintains that the dramatist has been slighted, since past interest has been almost exclusively on Moreto's comic persona as the Spanish Terence. Fur755 136BCom, Vol. 47, No. 1 (Summer 1995) ther, she takes exception with the traditional view of Seleuco in Antioco y Seleuco and Lafuerza de la ley as a person of dignity, generosity, and humanity , viewing him rather as an egotistical, resentful, irate tyrant whose actions at the end create an open situation for the spectator of disquiet and foreboding. The same uncertainty about a royal figure emerges from consideration ofthe ending for El hijo obediente, an unedited play which Makenzie is presently preparing for publication. El hijo obediente is a loose reworking of Lope's El piadoso aragonés, but Moreto shifts the focus from the father, Juan II, to the children, Carlos de Viana and Fernando, turning thereby the subject-matter into a tragedy. Mackenzie's analysis of the comedies focuses primarily on the innovations made by Rojas Zorrilla and Moreto in the creation of tbefigurón, especially Don Lucas del Cigarral in Entre bobos anda eljuego (perhaps the first true character to type) and "el lindo don Diego" in Moreto's famous play. Moreto also created many exceptionalfigurónos, the most outstanding ofwhich is Cecilia in Defuera vendrá. In the section on Moreto's comedia palaciega, Mackenzie presents an interesting analysis of El desdén con el desdén that diverges somewhat from previous interpretations. After considering the play's merits for its diverse characters, the use of music, the creation of dramatic tension and the varieties of humor, Mackenzie focuses on the role of the female protagonist . Basically, Diana lives in a society controlled by men, and she feels that this will prevent her from marrying for love and being loved for herself alone. Are all the pretenders to her hand interested only in her money, her status, her political position, or are they attracted to her as a woman? Most critics maintain that Carlos proves himself the perfect husband for her. Mackenzie, however, sees Carlos's love as little more authentic than his disdain and doubts that Diana has found the understanding husband who will respect her independent spirit. This book is enhanced considerably for those initiating research in the area by...

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