Language Power in La vida es sueño: A Speech Act Approach

La vida es sueño offers a fine example of how action turns on the axis of language, which is the key toward understanding the important issues of power and authority. Discourse in Vida permits the characters to create worlds with words. The linguistic behavior of each character reveals a special ability which this paper will examine. Segismundo finally yields to the persuasive power of lies, half-truths, ambiguities, equivocal statements, suggestions and symbols which eventually enable him to find himself.

Basilio creates a new reality for Segismundo; together with Clotaldo the two take advantage of the power of language to explain to the prince the distinction between dream and reality. Language power finally exerts complete control over Segismundo, causing him to change his philosophy and the ways in which he treats people; otherwise he would be trapped in his own primitive impulses. (EWH)