La vida es sueño (Life is a Dream) is a play by Spanish playwright Pedro Calderón de la Barca, written in 1635. It is considered one of the masterpieces of the Spanish Golden Age. The play explores the themes of free will, fate, and identity through the story of Segismundo, a prince who has been imprisoned in a tower since birth because his father fears a prophecy that he will be a cruel and tyrannical ruler. When Segismundo is finally released from his prison, he must confront his true nature and decide whether he will fulfill the prophecy or defy it.