Classical inheritance in Camonian theater: genres, themes, and characters

Abstract

Camões’ dramatic pieces are of particular importance for understanding and analysing the theatrical production created and performed in the 16th century in Portugal. There are three plays attributed to Luís Vaz de Camões, a small number compared to the works of other playwrights of the time, such as Gil Vicente and António Ferreira. This article aims to present Camões’ theatrical work in the light of the Greco-Latin classical tradition. It will seek to demonstrate how the Portuguese author recovers and recreates ancient models concerning genres, themes, and characters involved in the plots of his plays.