Don Carlo Social Studies Lesson

Focus: The Spanish Inquisition, and how it relates to the events in Don Carlo. TEKS: Social Studies, Grade 6: 1A High School World History: 1C, 4E, 23B Objectives:

1. The students will explain the relevance of religious influence on events in the Spanish Inquisition.

2. The student will describe interactions between people of different religions during the Spanish Inquisition in societies in Europe.

Materials Needed: Summary of Don Carlo Internet access and visual/audio projection system Background Information: Inquisition refers to the Roman Catholic Church’s fight against heresy. It began in the 12 Century in France. In 1477 the queen of Spain, Queen Isabella, was convinced that some converted Jews were secretly still practicing Judaism. All Jews and Muslims were ordered to convert or leave. Convicted heretics would be handed over to government authorities for punishment that was decided by the Church. Punishments included death by burning, although imprisonment for life or banishment would usually be used. When the Spanish Inquisition decided a punishment, there was a ritual of public penance of condemned heretics called auto-da-fé. In medieval Spanish “auto de fe” means “act of faith”. Because the execution following the penance was more memorable, auto-da-fé was associated with the punishment rather than the penance.

The last known execution by the Inquisition occurred in 1826. A Royal Decree abolished the Spanish Inquisition in 1834. It is estimated that approximately 150,000 people were processed by the Inquisition, and between 3,000 and 5,000 were executed. (It is estimated that over 60,000 Europeans were executed for “witchcraft” during the same time span as the Inquisition.)

Don Carlo Social Studies

Setting the Stage: Verdi’s opera, Don Carlo, takes place in Spain during the Inquisition. In Act II, an auto-da-fé occurs in front of Valladolid Cathedral, and a group of heretics are led to the stake, followed by a celestial voice welcoming their souls into heaven. In a following scene, King Phillip II consults with the Grand Inquisitor, consenting to the death sentence of Carlo and Posa. Phillip wonders if the throne must always yield to the altar. Teaching Suggestions: The students will:

1. Read and listen to the summary about Don Carlo. 2. Read the background information about the Inquisition. 3. Watch the auto-da-fé scene from Don Carlo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZDfRKP0H9k

Reflection: 1. Why did the Inquisition begin? Why do you think it persisted for so long? 2. What did the secular (non-religious) leaders have to gain for supporting the Inquisition? 3. Does anything like auto-da-fé exist in modern society?

Extension Activities: Attend Austin Lyric Opera’s production of Don Carlo at The Long Center for the Performing Arts on November 16, November 21, or November 24, 2013. Compare and contrast the experience of watching an excerpt online to watching the entire story in person.

Was it what you expected? What was your favorite part? What would you have done differently if you were the director? Why was the auto-da-fé scene important?

Additional Resources: Watch a scene from the operetta, Candide, “What a Day (for an Auto-da-fe),” which spoofs the public spectacle of auto-da-fé: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbTaD2C08xU On a light note, watch a sketch from Monty Python’s Flying Circus, “Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixgc_FGam3s&feature=youtu.be

Don Carlo

Summary

Characters

Carlo – Prince

Rodrigo - Marquis of Posa, friend of Don Carlo

Eboli - Princess

Elizabeth - Queen

Lady in Waiting

King Phillip

Background - Elizabeth (of France) is supposed to marry Prince Carlo (of Spain) in an arranged

marriage. They meet and fall in love. However, Elizabeth’s father decides that it is better for her to

marry Carlo’s father, King Philip. Their marriage will help maintain peace between France and

Spain. Therefore, the woman that Carlo loves, becomes his stepmother, Queen Elizabeth.

ACT I - St. Just Monastery

SCENE I - Graveyard

Carlo prays at the tomb of his grandfather, Emperor Charles V. He notices that one of the Monks

resembles his grandfather. His friend, Rodrigo, enters. Rodrigo reminds Carlo that he has agreed to

help the people of Flanders in their fight for freedom. He and Carlo sing of their pledge and they

swear eternal friendship. “Dio, che nell’alma infondere amor”

SCENE II - Garden

Princess Eboli sings to the ladies of the court as they await the arrival of the Queen. Elizabeth

enters, followed by Rodrigo. Rodrigo hands Queen Elizabeth a secret letter from Carlo, asking her

to meet with him. The ladies exit and Carlo enters.

Carlo asks Queen Elizabeth to convince King Philip to allow him to go to Flanders. She agrees.

Carlo cannot control his emotions and suddenly declares that he is in love with her. Elizabeth

rejects him and Carlo rushes off. King Philip enters and is angry when he finds Queen Elizabeth

alone. He then sends her Lady in Waiting back to France for not staying at her side.

Rodrigo, who is now alone with King Philip, bravely asks him to end his control of Flanders. The

King refuses but is impressed with Rodrigo’s courage. He tells Rodrigo that he suspects that Queen

Elizabeth and Carlo are in love. King Philip asks Rodrigo to spy on them. Rodrigo agrees, knowing

that being on the King’s side could help him in the future.

Don Carlo

Summary

ACT II - MADRID

SCENE I - Queen’s Garden

Carlo gets an unsigned letter asking him to meet in the garden at midnight. He thinks he will be

meeting with Queen Elizabeth. Carlo sees a masked woman and sings of his love for her. The

masked woman turns out to be Eboli. She declares her love for Carlo but he rejects her. Eboli

realizes that the words he sang were intended for Queen Elizabeth and she threatens to tell the King

Philip. Rodrigo enters and threatens to kill Eboli to keep her from telling the King. Carlo stops him.

Rodrigo explains that he is now in danger from the Inquisition. Rodrigo convinces Carlo to give

him some secret papers.

SCENE II - In front of Valladolid Cathedral

Carlo brings in a group of deputies from Flanders. They are scheduled to be killed but they beg the

King for freedom. The King denies them freedom. Carlo asks his father, King Philip, if he can go to

Flanders, but the King refuses. Carlo draws his sword threatening the King but Rodrigo takes away

the sword and Carlo is arrested. The King is impressed by Rodrigo so he gives him a promotion,

making him a Duke. The deputies from Flanders are executed as an angelic voice welcomes their

souls into heaven.

ACT III

SCENE I - King Philip's Study

King Philip sadly reflects that he is married to a wife who doesn't love him. “Ella giammai

m’amò!” He asks advice from the old and blind Grand Inquisitor. The King asks if he could

ever be forgiven if he kills his own son. The Grand Inquisitor points out that their God

sacrificed his own son therefore the King could be forgiven. The Grand Inquisitor also asks

the King to give up Rodrigo as he is a traitor.

Queen Elizabeth enters, after finding out that her jewelry box has been stolen. Eboli has

given the jewelry box to King Philip. Eboli knows that there is a portrait of Carlo in a locket

inside. Phillip asks Elizabeth to open it. When she refuses he breaks it open and finds the

portrait of Carlo. The King accuses Elizabeth of being in love with Carlo. Elizabeth faints

and King Philip calls for help.

Don Carlo

Summary

Act III (continued)

Eboli and Rodrigo enter. Eboli sings of her guilt for what she has done as Rodrigo sings about how

he cannot believe that a great King, who rules half the world, cannot rule his own emotions.

Alone with Elizabeth, Eboli confesses that she has caused Elizabeth to be falsely accused. She also

confesses that she has been having an affair with King Philip. Elizabeth orders her to leave Spain.

Eboli expresses her sadness that her beauty has caused so much trouble. She swears to spend her

final day in Spain trying to save Carlo.

SCENE II - Prison

Rodrigo visits Carlo in jail. He tells Carlo that he has used the secret papers to take responsibility for

the rebellion in Flanders. Carlo must take over as the leader in Flanders as the Inquisition now

wants to kill Rodrigo. Assassins of the Inquisition enter and kill Rodrigo. As he dies he tells Carlo

that Elizabeth will meet him at the Monastery of St. Just. Rodrigo sings that he is happy to have

sacrificed himself so that Carlo may live. He believes that Carlo is the man who will save Flanders.

ACT IV

Monastery of St. Just

Queen Elizabeth dreaming of her home country (France) has come to the Monastery and

she sings of wishing for her own death. “Tu, che le vanità”. Carlo appears and she

encourages him to take up Rodrigo's fight for freedom in Flanders. They both sing of their

hope for happiness in the next world. As they hug and say goodbye, King Philip and the

Grand Inquisitor arrive. Seeing them hugging, the King demands that Carlo be

immediately killed. Carlo once again sees the monk who resembles his grandfather. The

monk insists that suffering cannot be avoided in this world and will only stop in heaven.