Bright Summaries - Le Cid by Pierre Corneille (Book Analysis): Detailed Summary, Analysis and Reading Guide

Act I

In the introductory scene, Chimne is overjoyed to hear that her father approves of her love for Rodrigue. The Infanta is also in favor of the young couples marriage: in love with Rodrigue, she intends to hush a feeling that diverts her from her duty by promoting this wedding.

However, a disagreement opposes Don Goms, Chimnes father, to Don Digue, Rodrigues father, whom the king has just promoted to the rank of governor of the Prince of Castile. Don Goms, jealous, strikes his elder who cannot defend himself. Therefore, Don Digue asks his son to avenge the insult. Rodrigue, torn between his love for Chimne and his honor, chooses to face Don Goms in a duel.

Act II

Don Goms, by insulting Don Digue, has angered the king. However, he refuses to take it into account and chooses to ignore the potential consequences of his insubordination. He meets Rodrigue, who challenges him to a duel. The fighting of the two men is not shown on stage. It is only at the end of the act that the audience hears of its outcome: Rodrigue killed Don Goms.

Chimne would have wished to avoid a fatal encounter between her father and the man she loves, but she understands nevertheless that Rodrigue has to answer for the insult made to his family. As for the Infanta, she hopes to be able to take advantage of the conflict: if Rodrigue emerges victorious, it might make him an acceptable suitor for her. The king, for his part, must also worry about the presence of enemy ships at the estuary of the river.

Don Alonse suddenly enters to announce the death of Don Goms. Chimne arrives before the king, deeply upset. She asks for the death of her fathers murderer.

Act III

Rodrigue appears on stage in Chimnes house. The governess asks him to hide to escape the young womans revenge. Don Sanche hopes, by fighting Rodrigue, to win Chimnes love, as he is also in love with her. She awaits the kings justice. Despite her anger and her care for her familys honor, she cannot forget the feelings of love that Rodrigue awakens in her. She wishes him to be punished just as much as she wants him to be spared. Rodrigue comes before her and gives her his sword, to push her to kill him. Thus, he offers her the opportunity to avenge herself. She refuses and asks him to leave.

Rodrigue, having left Chimne alone and in despair, encounters Don Digue on a public square. The father congratulates the son on his exceptional feat when facing Don Goms. Rodrigue does not regret his act, but expresses how much he suffers from having had to sacrifice his love for Chimne for his honor. His father advises him to continue on the path of heroism by leaving to fight the Mores who are about to storm Seville.

Act IV

Rodrigue follows this advice and pushes the Mores back. He is considered a hero by all. The Infanta tries to convince Chimne to abandon her plea for Rodrigues punishment, as his death would be a heavy loss for the country.

Rodrigue tells the king of his warrior feats. But Chimne arrives to demand justice. The king uses a surprising method to get the truth about the young womans feelings: he makes her believe that Rodrigue died in the fighting. Upon hearing this, she swoons, therefore making her love for him obvious. Once the king has explained the truth of the matter, she demands again that Rodrigue be killed. She promises to marry the winner of a duel between Don Sanche and Don Rodrigue, if Rodrigue is the loser. In doing this, she wants to make Don Sanche the winner of a justice that the king refuses her. The king agrees on the notion of a duel, but requires that Chimne marries the winner, whoever he is, even if it is Rodrigue.

Act V

Rodrigue announces to Chimne that he will not defend himself against Don Sanche. Chimne asks him to fight to defend his honor and to save her from marriage to Don Sanche, whom she does not love.

The Infanta renounces her love for Rodrigue: she has nothing left to hope for, as the outcome of the duel can only be either the heros death, or his marriage to Chimne. Chimne awaits the outcome of the duel with fear: she will have to marry either her fathers murderer, or that of Rodrigue.

As she sees Don Sanche arriving with a bloodied sword, Chimne believes her lover to be dead. She finally allows herself to confess her love for Rodrigue to the king. But the ending is a happy one: Don Sanche tells her that he lost the duel but that Don Rodrigue spared him. The king demands that Chimne respects her promise by marrying the winner. However, he grants her time to mourn her father: the marriage is to be celebrated one year later.