Fernán Gómez de Guzmán, Protagonist of Fuenteovejuna

The long-standing critical view that there is a collective protagonist in Fuenteovejuna is reexamined with the intention of proving that this viewpoint disregards important aspects of the play and the so-called sources. When such details are considered the evidence leads to the conclusion that Fernán Gómez de Guzmán is the protagonist. Lope falsifies certain historical facts and expands upon some vague statements found in the "sources" in order to highlight the rôle of the comendador and the theme of peasant honor. The expression "Fuente Ovejuna lo hizo" is simply a ruse thought up after the revolt in order to ensure the failure of the king's investigation. In addition, the attribution of certain speeches during the peasant rebellion to Todos or Todas refers to specific people. Esteban decides to act alone to regain his lost honor and the other peasants join the revolt because of the affronts they had suffered. But it is Esteban who deals the death blow to the cowering comendador. The realization that there is a single protagonist also attests to Lope's skills as a playwright because the comendador generates all of the action in both plots, thus unifying them into a harmonious unit. Fernán Gómez de Guzmán is a significant dramatic figure and not a transplant from a chronicle. He controls the action in both plots even after his death and when, at the end of the play, the king decides that he cannot punish the peasants he is accepting the concept of peasant honor and not rewarding them for protecting the monarchy. (MJR)