Hernani

Hernani, also known as Ernani, is a play about three men – two noble men and one mysterious bandit – who fell in love with the same woman. One might think it would be just a cheezy romance where the men fight over the girl, but it’s far from that. They literally fight, and it’s with swords. This play was made in the Romantic period and was written by Victor Hugo, who was one of the most important French Romantic poets, novelists, and dramatists in his time. He is also known for being the one who wrote Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The writer was born in February 26, 1802 in Bensancon, France.

The play opens with Don Carlos, King of Spain, sneaking to the bedroom of Doña Sol. Pathetically, he forces her maid to help conceal him within the room, and shortly, Doña Sol enters to welcome her lover, Hernani. They both talk about their circumstances – Sol is forced to marry her elder uncle, and Hernani is a bandit whose father was executed by the previous king. Realizing their plot, they plan to elope together. Many things happen, until ultimately, it was time for Sol and Hernani to meet at their rendezvous point.

Since Don Carlos knew of their plans to elope (he was hidden in a cabinet in Sol’s room), he decides to go to the rendezvous point, hoping to seduce Sol in Hernani’s place. Sol, however, recognizes him and instantly rejects him. Don Carlos, infuriated, plans to abduct her and the two begin to struggle with each other. Hernani arrives just in time with 60 men and challenges Don Carlos to a duel, which the king refuses as only noblemen could duel. The king then challenges Hernani to murder him, but Hernani could not, and thus, he escapes along with his men after the king sent his soldiers to arrest them.

Hernani ends up going to Silva’s house, the house of the uncle and fiancé of Sol. Surprisingly, Silva takes him in as a guest and gives him hospitality. He even protects him while the king arrives to arrest the bandit. When the king starts to threaten Silva, Sol immediately comes down to intercede. Don Carlos decides to forgive Silva, but abducts Sol. Alone, Silva releases Hernani with the intent of fighting him to the death, but when the bandit learned of Sol’s abduction, he suggests on trying to rescue her. He promises to surrender to Silva and gives him a horn in which if he blows, Hernani will kill himself. Sol then agrees.

After the battle, Hernani reveals that he is John of Aragon, noble, but born in exile. Having change of heart, Don Carlos announces that Hernani will be married to Sol, in which the two accept happily.

Sol and Hernani are married, but as they are enjoying their wedding feast, Silva blows the horn. Remembering his promise, Hernani goes to his room and prepares the poison. As he was about to drink it, Sol enters the room and tries to persuade him not to continue. At his persistence, Sol drinks half of the poison. Hernani then drinks the other half and they die. Silva kills himself after finding about what happened.