Previous
Queen Isabel
Rodrigo is the 17-year-old Master of the Order of Calatrava. Following the death of the Master’s uncle, the Commander reminds the Master that his family is loyal to Alonso, not Queen Isabel and King Fernando. The Commander, appealing to the fact that the Master should earn glory by proving himself in battle, instigates the Master to attack the Ciudad Real. The Master is able to conquer the city, but Isabel and Fernando’s army quickly retakes it. When the Master hears about the Commander’s death in Fuente Ovejuna, he declares that he would raze the city to the ground if it were up to him—in contrast with Fernando, who launches a careful investigation and ultimately pardons the citizens. This demonstrates how the Master is motivated by vengeance and self-interest, in contrast to the King, who pursues justice and mercy. Ultimately, the Master asks Fernando and Isabel for forgiveness for his treachery, vowing humility and loyalty to them to regain his honor. They accept his plea, once again reinforcing the play’s idea that leaders should act with mercy and justice, not vengeance, self-interest, or the pursuit of glory.
Master Rodrigo Téllez Girón Quotes in Fuente Ovejuna
The Fuente Ovejuna quotes below are all either spoken by Master Rodrigo Téllez Girón or refer to Master Rodrigo Téllez Girón. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1
Quotes
COMMANDER: Respect’s the key
To men’s good will; discourtesy merely
Makes enemies.
ORTUÑO: If such men knew
How everyone detests them and longs
To see them grovel, they’d sooner die.
FLORES: Such people are so hard to take!
Such surliness and lack of manners.
Amongst equals it’s pure folly;
Towards inferiors sheer tyranny.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Take your sword, so far unstained
By blood, and turn it red as the Cross
Upon your breast. How else can I
Address you as Master of the Cross
If the one is red and not the other?
Let both of them be crimson, and you,
Worthy Girón, crown the immortal temple of
Your famous ancestors.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3
Quotes
I come to seek
Forgiveness, knowing that I was
Deceived and ill-advised in causing you
Displeasure. I was misled both by
Fernán Gómez and my self-interest.
I humbly beg that you forgive me.
If I am worthy of such favour,
I swear that from this moment on
I am your loyal and obedient servant.
The great campaign you plan against
Granada…I promise you you’ll see
The valour of my sword.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Fuente Ovejuna LitChart as a printable PDF.
Master Rodrigo Téllez Girón Quotes in Fuente Ovejuna
The Fuente Ovejuna quotes below are all either spoken by Master Rodrigo Téllez Girón or refer to Master Rodrigo Téllez Girón. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1
Quotes
COMMANDER: Respect’s the key
To men’s good will; discourtesy merely
Makes enemies.
ORTUÑO: If such men knew
How everyone detests them and longs
To see them grovel, they’d sooner die.
FLORES: Such people are so hard to take!
Such surliness and lack of manners.
Amongst equals it’s pure folly;
Towards inferiors sheer tyranny.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Take your sword, so far unstained
By blood, and turn it red as the Cross
Upon your breast. How else can I
Address you as Master of the Cross
If the one is red and not the other?
Let both of them be crimson, and you,
Worthy Girón, crown the immortal temple of
Your famous ancestors.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3
Quotes
I come to seek
Forgiveness, knowing that I was
Deceived and ill-advised in causing you
Displeasure. I was misled both by
Fernán Gómez and my self-interest.
I humbly beg that you forgive me.
If I am worthy of such favour,
I swear that from this moment on
I am your loyal and obedient servant.
The great campaign you plan against
Granada…I promise you you’ll see
The valour of my sword.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
