THE UNHOLY MARTYR: DON JUAN'S MISUSE OF INTELLIGENCE

There is no doubt that the regal decision was less of a quandary for the audience of Tirso's time. An intense medieval preoccupation with supernatural occurrences, kept very much alive through profuse pro duction of miracle plays in the Golden Age, insured the audience's immediate appreciation both of Don Gonzalo's miraculous role and his glorification by the king. They must also have understood Don Juan's own exemplary punishment, which may seem to us actually to dignify the villain. But the king's verdict of castigation has not changed; only his attitude towards the dead Burlador since the seeds of Don Juan's posthumous fame are also there in the imposing sepulchre which consecrates Don Gonzalo's revenge ?para memoria m?s grande." But has the king been impressed by the bravery by which Don Juan had hoped to impress all Seville in his arrogant defiance of the stone guest? It would clearly be prejudicial to the overall sense of Tirso's play if the king, symbol of secular justice as well as God's viceroy, were to generate any sense of admiration for a lecher among his subjects