Synopsis
The King of Poland has kept his son Sigismund secretly imprisoned since birth because an oracle prophesied that the prince would bring disaster to the country. Telling his subjects that the boy died soon after birth, the King manages to keep him hidden until he has grown to be a man. When Sigismund reaches maturity, the King wishes to reveal him as rightful heir to the throne. The King brings the Prince to court and tells him about his royal heritage. This discovery makes him violent, however, and he rages, killing a servant, attempting to rape a woman, and injuring the King's advisor.
Horrified and certain of the truthfulness of the dire prophecy, the King has Sigismund drugged and returned to his tower prison. Upon waking he mourns, believing the previous day's events had been nothing more than a dream.
Though he remains oblivious in his cell, the people have discovered Sigismund's plight and break him out of prison. Though he rejoices, he cannot be sure whether this new development is, in fact, reality or still just a dream.
The rebels persist, though, and the King raises an army of the people. The rebels defeat the king, but Sigismund cannot take his father's life. Moved at this gesture, the King proclaims Sigismund heir to his throne after all. As ruler, he resolves to live by the motto that "God is God," acknowledging that, whether asleep or awake, one must strive for goodness.
Read more about this topic: Life Is A Dream