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A kind of Stone-Age version of Inception is "La Vida Es Sueño" by Pedro Calderón de la Barca written in 1635. http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_vida_es_sue%C3%B1o

It is a 3-act play where the Prince of Poland, Segismundo was imprisoned since birth due to a bad prediction by astrologers that he would be evil. However, Rosaura and Clarín arrange for his release.

  Nace el ave, y con las galas 
  que le dan belleza suma,  
  apenas es flor de pluma 
  o ramillete con alas, 
  cuando las etéreas salas 
  corta con velocidad, 
  negándose a la piedad 
  del nido que deja en calma; 
  ¿y teniendo yo más alma, 
  tengo menos libertad?
Essentially that birds are free to fly around in the sky and naturally look beautiful. So why do I with more "soul" have less freedom ?

In Act 2, Segismundo contemplates his freedom and his relief turns into outrage. Indeed he rapes a women, throws a man over a cliff and murders another one.

In the 3rd act he is captured and thrown back in chains - the astrologers' prediction has been fulfilled.

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Inception certainly takes this several iterations further putting dream inside dream inside dream. Yet, metaphysical questions of whather you are awake or dreaming have been around...



This sounds more like [SPOILER HERE] Minority Report


Sounds like every single Greek tragedy ever.




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