Vulgo, imitación y natural en el 'Arte nuevo de hacer comedias' (1609) de Lope de Vega

This article clarifies some of the paradoxes in Lope de Vega’s Arte nuevo de hacer
comedias (1609) explaining them in the context of Lope’s literary career. In particular,
we examine how Lope uses the heavily laden words ‘vulgo’ and ‘natural’ to
obtain the benevolence of his audience, but also to use his success in the commercial
theatres in a way coherent with the rest of his literary production. Specifically,
the Isidro (1599) and the Rimas (1602, 1604, 1609) will provide useful analogies with
the Arte nuevo’s rhetoric and logical construction, especially in relation to Lope’s
ideas of imitation and literary creation. These ideas fill the words ‘vulgo’ and
‘natural’ with connotations that contribute greatly to understanding the Arte nuevo.