The Wonder-Working Magician

"The Wonder-Working Magician" by Pedro Calderón de la Barca is a play set in Antioch, where Cyprian, a thoughtful scholar, tries to avoid the city's celebrations. He's accompanied by his servants, Clarin and Moscon, who have very different views on love and life. Cyprian's quiet world is turned upside down when he meets a Demon, who tests his intelligence, brings magic into the story, and hints at deeper philosophical questions about destiny and choice. The arrival of Justina, who becomes the center of the characters' desires, ramps up the competition between them and highlights the challenges of love and the fight to be independent. The beginning of the story introduces the characters and emotions that drive the plot, while suggesting the complex ideas that Calderón is famous for.