Breeches, Sword Play and Intriguing Ladies: Performing the Spanish Code of Honor as a Model for Social Formation in the Plays of the English Restoration

Over 10% of English Restoration drama engaged its audience through plays that were translated from or imitated the Spanish capa y espada form of theatre. English plays modeled on this form used Spanish locations and a constructed and rigid idea of honor as a proxy for English society. While dialogue was still important, it  performed physical action of this form, including frequent use of breeches roles and female characters sword fighting, allowed for different and effective critiques and models of social behavior for women in England. Particularly important were concerns about women’s behavior and status in English society, and the presence of the actress for the first time on English stages heightened the effectiveness of these plays as an instrument of social discussion.