What social classes did Lope de Vega portray in his plays?

In his plays, Lope de Vega portrayed a society structured into three primary estates: the king, the nobles, and the common people.1

While his dramas often defended this hierarchical social order, Lope was notable for introducing the common people as fully rounded characters on the stage. By doing so, he allowed individuals from various social ranks—such as the daughter of a blacksmith—to express emotions and experiences that had previously been reserved for aristocratic characters. In his works, he insisted on the special dignity and honor of all these ranks, from the monarch down to the peasantry.2

In his cloak-and-sword drama, he also featured servants who often parodied the actions of their social superiors, with characters like the gracioso using wit and common sense to comment on the follies of those in higher social positions.3