The community of women in Mari?a de Zayas y Sotomayor's La traicio?n en la amistad

by Ferrer, Joshua.

THE COMMUNITY OF WOMEN IN MARÍA DE ZAYAS Y SOTOMAYOR’S LA TRAICIÓN EN LA AMISTAD by Joshua Ferrer In the predominantly male world of the Spanish comedia, the seventeenth-century play La traición en la amistad by María de Zayas y Sotomayor is distinct not just for its status as a play written by a woman, but also for its use of predominantly female protagonists. Due to the unique formulaic nature of the comedia, it is quite reasonable to presuppose that Zayas felt a particular need to maintain societal order, which she does through use of traditional theatrical conventions in her work. Nonetheless, through the creation of a local community of women separate from the dominant community of men in the play, Zayas carefully raises the notion of change to like-minded viewers. This thesis will explore the ways in which María de Zayas follows traditional tenets of the Spanish theatrical form; while at the same time also subtly suggests the notion of alternate possibilities for women through representations of a local community.