Infanta in Le Cid the Essay

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Neither to force nor reason will men yield; Only in semblance can the wound be healed" (II.3.27-30). In other words, she seems aware of the fact that, as warriors, both men may owe allegiance to the King, but their own fierce natures are even more critical to them than this allegiance. They will not allow even the King's counsel to end their feud. The Infanta seems to consider her words, but then suggests that Chimene's feelings for Don Rodrigue will sway her father if the King cannot, but Chimene reiterates her belief that the rift cannot be healed. She also recognizes that if she asks Don Rodrigue to refrain from seeking vengeance from her father, it will compromise his social reputation. The Infanta devises a solution; she will take Don Rodrigue prisoner until the men can heal their rift, so that his failure to seek vengeance against Don Gome will not be seen as weakness. However, the men still manage to meet in a duel, and Don Rodrigue kills Don Gome.

When the Infanta hears about Don Gome's death, she comes to Chimene, not to offer consolation, but to offer some type of empathy. Chimene acknowledges that Don Rodrigue was fulfilling his social duty and has provided service to the King, but makes it clear that he has hurt her. The Infanta urges Chimene to embrace the praise of her lover and allow his noted valor to bring her joy. Chimene says that the acknowledgment of his worth increases her pain, because she knows Don Rodrigue to be a good man. However, because he has killed her father, Chimene feels duty-bound to seek Don Rodrigue's death.

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The Infanta chastises her. She makes it clear that Don Gome's death has changed the circumstances for all of her King's people, including Chimene. With Don Gome dead, Don Rodrigue is the most respected soldier in the kingdom. For Chimene to attempt to kill Don Rodrigue would destroy Chimene's reputation and her place in society. In fact, she suggests that Chimene's desired vengeance would place the entire kingdom in jeopardy. "You pursue public ruin through his death. What? To avenge a father are we free to deliver our country to the enemy? Is your cause against us legitimate? Are we part of his crime, to share his fate?" (IV.2. 43-47). However, she does not feel that Chimene's public duty requires her to marry Don Rodrigue. She tells her not to marry him, but not to seek his death.

Chimene says that she is still in love with Don Rodrigue, but that she must scorn him. The Infanta tells her that her duty to the public is greater than her duty to avenge her father. When Chimene disagrees, the Infanta asks her to take time to reconsider, stressing to her that her obligation to the community is much greater than her obligation to avenge her father. Therefore, if the Infanta is removed from the play, it is difficult to understand that Chimene's determination to avenge her father's death would not have been viewed solely as the actions of a loyal daughter, but as an action against the community at large.

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