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"Ernani, o l'onore castigliano" is a drama by the French romantic author "Vittore Ugo".

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The play opened in Paris on February 25, 1830.
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Today, the drama is more remembered for the demonstrations which accompanied the premiere, and for being the inspiration of Verdi's opera "Ernani", than it is for its own merits.

It is used to describe the magnitude/elegance of Prince Prospero's masquerade.

Also referenced in Edgar Allan Poe's short story, "The Masque of the Red Death".

Gillenormand in Les Misérables criticizes "Ernani".


Characters

Donna Elvira
Doña Sol---Young noblewoman, object of desire for all three male characters.

Don Carlo
re di Spagna -- Carlo V, sacro romano imperatore

-King of Spain (in whose court the play's events take place).

Ernani----Bandit, Dona Sol's true love.

Don Ruy Gomez de Silva----
Doña Sol's uncle and fiancé.
Protects Hernani on the condition that he kill himself later.

Set in a fictitious version of the Spanish
court of 1519, it is based on courtly romance and intrigues.

Act I

In the first scenes Hugo introduces Doña Sol, a young noblewoman of the court of Don Carlos, King of Spain (the future Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor).

Don Carlo, re di Spagna, has come to her room to seduce her.

They are interrupted by the arrival of Doña Sol's true love, the bandit Ernani (Don Giovanni d'Aragona) and the two argue over her and are about to duel.

Her uncle (and fiancé) Don Ruy Gomez de Silva enters, and demands to know why both men are in Doña Sol's private chambers.

Don Carlos asserts that he had come hoping to meet Ruy Gomez to discuss affairs of state, and Hernani does not reveal the King's true intent.

In return for the bandit's discretion, Don Carlo claims to Don Ruy that Hernani is a member of his entourage.

Thus, each has given the other an
honorable excuse for his presence in the quarters of Doña Sol.

Thus, three men- two noblemen and a mysterious bandit, are in love with the same woman.

What follows in the ensuing chaos of action prompted the biographer of Hugo, J.P. Houston, to write

"a résumé [plot synopsis] will necessarily fail, as in the case of Notre-Dame de Paris, to suggest anything like the involution of its details" (Houston 1974:53).

[edit] Act II

Don Carlos learns of a midnight rendezvous between Doña Sol and Hernani.

He decides to interrupt it in the hope of abducting her.

Hernani becomes aware of the plot and has his men surround the King's guards.

For the first time, the King becomes
aware of Hernani's true identity as a bandit, rather than a nobleman, and refuses a duel.

Hernani, although he could charge the King with a crime, allows him to go free.

[edit] Act III

The (interrupted) wedding of Doña Sol to Ruy Gomez.

Hernani arrives in disguise, and confronts her for agreeing, however reluctantly, to marry.

He admits his criminal past to Ruy Gomez, and the fact that he is being pursued by the King.

On the King's arrival, Ruy Gomez hides Hernani and refuses to surrender him, citing laws of hospitality, which, he asserts, protect his guests, even from the King.

While Ruy Gomez and Don Carlos argue, Doña Sol, alone with Hernani, reveals that she plans to commit suicide before her marriage can be consummated.

The King, frustrated by
Ruy Gomez' resistance, drops the
pursuit of Hernani, and instead abducts Doña Sol.

Ruy Gomez agrees to spare Hernani's life long enough to free Doña Sol, on condition that Hernani will die willingly at some point in the future.

Hernani gives him a horn which Ruy Gomez is to blow to announce the moment of Hernani's death.

Acts 4-5

Don Carlos is elected Holy Roman Emperor.

He resolves to live up to the requirements and responsibilities of his new title.

Carlo pardons Hernani and gives him Doña Sol.

The two are married, but as they enjoy their wedding feast, Hernani hears the call of the horn blown by Ruy Gomez.

As Hernani is about to drink poison Doña Sol enters the room and tries to convince him that he is hers and he does not have to listen to her uncle.

He is unable to persuade her otherwise.

She drinks half the bottle of poison.

Hernani shocked by Doña Sol's decision to kill herself drinks the other half of the poison and they die in each others arms.

Ruy Gomez de Silva kills himself.

[edit] References

Easton, Malcolm. Artists and Writers in Paris: The Bohemian Idea, 1803-1867. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1964
Houston, John Porter. Victor Hugo. New York: Twayne Publishers. 1974
Houston, John Porter (1974). Victor Hugo, Revised Edition. New York: Twayne Publishers. 1988
Miller, Richard. Bohemia; the Protoculture Then and Now. Chicago: Nelson-Hall, 1977.
Porter, Laurence M.. Victor Hugo. Ed. David O'Connell. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1999.
[edit] External linksAnalysis of Hernani
History and Analysis of Hernani
Project Gutenberg free eBook of Hernani in French
Modern English Translation of Hernani
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Categories: 1830 worksPlays by Victor Hugo