Act I, Scene I
At the opening of the play, Duchess Isabelle of Naples tells “Duke Octavius” to leave quickly, implying that the King of Naples would discover him and punish the two. Before he gets to leave, they whisper romantic nothings to one another and the king discovers them. When the king discovers the two, he has Don Pedro deal with the situation. After the king leaves, Don Pedro tells all of the guards to leave and Don Juan and Don Pedro begin talking. Don Juan tries to keep up the disguise of Octavius by telling Pedro he is his nephew. Don Pedro doesn’t believe this and Don Juan tells him that he tricked Isabelle into lying with him by being Octavius. Don Pedro tells us that Don Juan was exiled from Castile to Naples. Don Pedro lets him escape and tells him to return to Spain. Then the king comes in, and Don Pedro tells the King of how Don Juan tricked the guards and escaped. Then the king takes Isabelle and asks her to explain but just ends up yelling at her. The king wants Duke Octavius arrested. Then the king refuses to look at Isabelle.
Act I, Scene II Octavius and his servant are talking about his love for Isabelle, when suddenly Don Pedro arrives. Don Pedro announces that he is there to arrest Octavius, and Don Pedro says that Octavius raped Isabelle. Octavius says that he loves Isabelle, but Don Pedro explains that he must go. Octavius decides to flee to Spain and is shocked the Isabelle was with another man.
Act I, Scene III Tisbea is looking out onto the sea complaining about how she has no man in her life when she suddenly sees two men drowning. As the men swim to shore, she cries for help. Catalinon, a servant of Don Juan, brings both of them to safety on shore. Catalinon reveals that Don Juan is a nobleman. When Catalinon goes to get help, Don Juan wakes up and the two say romantic nothings to one another. Catalinon returns with help,