Classical tragedy adapted to the mentality romantic , or "drama " romantic, in the words of Almeida Garrett , Frei Luís de Sousa tries to update erased drama in Portugal , integrating the author's effort to adapt the Portuguese culture to European culture and bourgeois liberal . Thus, in addition to founding the National Theatre D. Maria II and the National Conservatory , Almeida Garrett wrote An Auto de Gil Vicente ( 1838 ) , D. Filipa de Vilhena ( 1840 ) , The Alfageme Santarém ( 1842), Frei Luís de Sousa ( 1843 ) and Speak the Truth Lie ( 1846 ) .

Contained in the number of characters ( six main ) , contained in the dramatic action ( only one death : Maria ) , true to the story but mostly true to cultural and literary framework ( Romanticism ) , Frei Luís de Sousa , action centered between the sixteenth and XVII , recalls the social catastrophe of Alcazarquivir and loss of independence through the disappearance of D. John of Portugal on the beaches of Africa and the consequent mourning his wife , D. Magdalene de Vilhena , married in second nuptials with Manuel de Sousa Coutinho , which has a daughter , Maria .

 

The absence of D. John of Portugal weighs dramatically in the structure of the piece by the memories of Telmo parents, his former and actual aio aio Mary. Telmo does not believe in the death of D. John of Portugal and fatalistically, convinced that this will reappear one day. Before the second marriage, D. Magdalene make every effort to find her husband. All efforts had been fruitless. Patriot, Manuel de Sousa Coutinho refuses to allow the new rulers Castilians occupy his palace. Ignites it, moving to the former palace of the wife, also in Almada. Haunted by memories of her first husband, D. Magdalene refusal, Manuel de Sousa Coutinho force it. Under an act of high value nationalist unleashed the family drama, ending with the ghostly reappearance of D. John of Portugal and Maria of death by disease.

 

Among all posts Garrett's work, stands out for "Nobody", stated by D. John of Portugal. D. Sebastian, the savior of Portugal, had not come, never come, Portugal creeps the most painful ways of decay. "No one" has a very high symbolic value, represents the whole of the country and expresses the consciousness of the author, the inexistence of salvation for Portugal classic. Liberalism would resurrect a new Portugal.