Part 1, Scene 1 Summary

The Sleep of Reason is Antonio Buero-Vallejo's two-act play about political tyranny and oppression in 1823 Spain when King Ferdinand VII tortured and executed those in opposition to his rule. King Ferdinand had been deposed by the Liberal faction in Spain and, with the help of France, has just been reinstalled to the throne after a three-year absence. The famous Spanish artist, Francisco Goya, is at the center of the play because of his Liberal position against the king.

The play begins in King Ferdinand's rooms where the king is embroidering and speaking to his aide, Francisco Tadeo Calomarde. The topic of late is the torture and banishment of the remaining Liberals in Spain who oppose the king. Names are kept in the king's Green Book so that those in opposition may be watched for further indiscretions. Calomarde recalls for the king...