Analysis of “Rings for a Lady”: Characters, Themes, and Opinions
Rings for a Lady: Character Analysis and Themes
Character Sketches
Jimena
Compared to the poem, Jimena in “Rings for a Lady” undergoes a slight transformation. As in the poem, she marries El Cid for political reasons at the young age of 14 and resides in an abandoned convent. However, it’s evident that El Cid wasn’t always present and often compensated with lavish gifts. In the play, Jimena is around forty years old and, with El Cid deceased, desires a new life away from the shadow of history. She wishes to live freely with the person she loves, Minaya. This proves challenging because, despite El Cid’s death, society strives to keep his memory alive and believes that Jimena marrying Minaya would dishonor him. Jimena emerges as a courageous and strong woman who refuses to be silenced. Tired of her surroundings, she yearns to live life on her own terms.
Minaya
Similar to the poem, Minaya remains El Cid’s nephew and right-hand man. Even after El Cid’s death, he stays loyal to his family and defends them when needed. According to Jimena, Minaya is a coward, a trait that becomes evident by the play’s end. He has always loved Jimena but gives up before even having a chance with her. In “Rings for a Lady,” Minaya symbolizes freedom for Jimena, who believes she can marry him once free and live her life. Ultimately, Minaya’s cowardice prevents him from pursuing happiness, unlike Jimena, who actively strives for it.
Jerome
Jerome is an elderly and deaf French bishop. In the play, despite his religious position, he appears to have lost his faith. His actions and words are repetitive and lack emphasis. He serves as a somewhat comical character due to his deafness and irritating language. Jerome stands in stark contrast to Jimena, who embodies the values of their traditional and conservative society, where a marriage between El Cid’s widow and his loyal companion, Minaya, would be frowned upon.
Maria
As in the poem, Maria is El Cid’s daughter and marries twice: first to an Infante of Carrión, like her sister, and then, after suffering abuse, to the sons of kings. In “Rings for a Lady,” she is a participatory character with a strong personality who opposes her mother’s intended marriage to Minaya. This creates friction between Maria and Jimena, with Maria reminding her mother of the unfortunate marriage to the Infantes of Carrión. According to Jimena, Maria is jealous of her and was always in love with their father, El Cid. The play suggests that Maria was El Cid’s favorite, after Minaya, and their bond was strong. Her constant arguments with her mother, in a way, make her a part of El Cid’s legacy.
Constanza
Constanza is Jimena’s chaperone, an old woman of about seventy years. She is portrayed as a bawd and possibly a matchmaker, constantly meddling between Jimena and Minaya. Throughout the play, she appears loyal to Jimena, and they share a close bond. However, Constanza ultimately betrays Jimena by siding with Alfonso VI to set a trap for Jimena and Minaya during their final encounter.
Alfonso VI
In the poem, the relationship between Alfonso VI and El Cid is strained due to El Cid’s multiple exiles. Alfonso is Jimena’s uncle and, for political reasons, arranges her marriage to El Cid and later sends him to San Pedro de Cardeña. In “Rings for a Lady,” Alfonso neither supports nor opposes Jimena’s desire to marry Minaya. However, he prefers the marriage to remain secret to preserve El Cid’s honor.
Themes
Honor
The theme of honor permeates the play, primarily through the ever-present memory of El Cid. Jimena and Minaya’s love cannot be publicly acknowledged due to concerns about upholding El Cid’s honor.
Love
Jimena and Minaya’s love story is central to the play, highlighting the challenges they face in pursuing their happiness due to societal expectations and the legacy of El Cid.
Freedom
Jimena deeply desires freedom, realizing that she has spent her life conforming to expectations and hasn’t truly lived. She seeks liberation and views Minaya as a means to achieve it.
Personal Opinion
I admire Jimena’s heroic stance in the play. She recognizes her lost life and fights against the king to live in freedom and anonymity. I was disappointed by Minaya’s indifference when he finally has the opportunity to be with Jimena after many years. I also dislike how most characters strive to keep El Cid’s memory alive for appearances and to prevent Jimena from marrying Minaya.