The Farce of Inez Pereira (Portuguese: Farsa de Inês Pereira), originally written as the Allegory or Act of Inez Pereira (Early Portuguese: Auto de Ines<!--sic--> Pereira), is a 1523 play by Portuguese playwright Gil Vicente. It shows the ambitions of the Portuguese bourgeoisie in the early 16th century.
The play was written after a challenge against Gil Vicente’s talent. The author agreed to write a play after a Portuguese popular saying: “Mais quero um asno que me carregue do que cavalo que me derrube” (English: “It’s better to have a donkey to carry me than a horse to trample me”). It was first presented to king John III of Portugal at the Convento de Cristo, in Tomar, in 1523.
The action revolves around the protagonist Inês Pereira, who never leaves the stage that remains the same throughout the play. Inês, is a common lass who aspires to marry up with a clever man. Inês’ mother, worried about her daughter’s future wants her to marry Pero Marques, a suitor brought to her by Lianor Vaz. However, Inês Pereira doesn’t like the idea of marrying the dull and uneducated son of a farmer. Two Jewish matchmakers intervene and Inés marries a squire, Brás da Mata. The marriage soon is revealed to be disastrous for Inês, who shortly afterwards is locked up on her husband’s orders when he goes to war. Months later, Inês receives the good news: her husband was killed by a shepherd. Soon, she sets out to marry again and the very same day discovers that Pero Marques still remains a bachelor – something he had promised her the day they met. Inês marries him right away but soon finds a lover. The saying is represented when her husband carries her on his back to her lover in the final scene. The cuckhold even sings “assim são as coisas” (“Thus the things are”).