At the heart of LIFE IS A DREAM are Rosaura, a Russian noblewoman; Clarion, a clown who serves as her manservant; and Segismund, the true Prince of Poland whose father, Basil, has kept him locked away since birth because Basil believes in astrology and the predictions that Segismund would cause the king harm.  When Rosaura is thrown from her horse on a journey to find the louse who abandoned her, she stumbles upon Segismund's cell.  The story continues as Basil allows Segismund to be freed in order to see if fate can be altered by human intervention.  In the castle, Rosaura dons a new identity where she learns her lying suitor is preparing to wed another.  Eventually, Basil sees that Segismund is returned to his cell, but this is only the beginning.  From here the story delves into a full out rebellion by the Polish people after they learn of the true prince's fate and want him freed permanently.  There are other storylines that wind throughout the story including the revelation of Rosaura's birth father, but the key element is the battle to free Segismund. 

In LIFE IS A DREAM, the play reads more like a poem.  A catchy rhyming pattern is used throughout much of the story, though some sections utilize a non-rhyming pattern that can throw the reader off. 

Had you not sired me willfully,

I'd have no basis for complaint,

But since you did, what need restraint?

You took my life away from me.

And while no act is nobler than

To give, whatever that gift's worth,

No baser act exists on earth

Than taking back that gift again. 

I found LIFE IS A DREAM far easier to read than the works of Shakespeare, though I also found myself feeling that storylines back then must all revolve around one's place in society and the battle to keep others from deserved titles.  In that aspect, I found Pedro Calderon de la Barca's play to share similarities with many Shakespeare works.