SOURCE: “Projections of the Unconscious Self in Buero's Theatre (El concierto de San Ovidio, La Fundación, Diálogo secreto),” in Neophilologus, Vol. 78, No. 2, April, 1994, pp. 251–61.

In the following essay, Gabriele studies the protagonists from Buero Vallejo's El concierto de San Ovidio, La Fundación, and Diálogo secreto and concludes, “Exploring his protagonists from a psychological standpoint intensifies dramatic tension and gives profound meaning to the process of interiorization and catharsis that so uniquely characterizes Buerian tragedy.”

In their symbolic journey from darkness to light, the protagonists of Antonio Buero Vallejo's theatre take part in a dynamic evolution of self that underscores their unyielding desire to rebel against and overcome limitations thrust upon them by fate. Their rebellion has very definite psychological implications. They become engaged in a deep inner struggle that leads ultimately to a reassertion of self. Over the years, we have come to appreciate...