The Marriage of Figaro

by Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais
List(s):"Carp 500"
Category: "Drama"
Pages:118
Year of Publication:1784
Date Read:01/11/1997
Notes:The story of how the Count Almaviva is thwarted in his attempts to seduce his servant Figaro's intended bride Susanna, is both domestic and universal — the showing of a servant who is more than his master's equal, who outwits and humiliates him.
My Rating: 7

Reviews for The Marriage of Figaro

Review - Marriage of Figaro, The

The Count has grown tired of Rosine and is trying to seduce her maid, Suzanne, who is engaged to Figaro, who is now the Count’s valet. Figaro, Suzanne and Rosine make a plan to fool the Count. Meanwhile, the Count tries to force Figaro to marry Marceline, but when it develops that she is Figaro’s mother, the scheme falls apart. (Incidentally, it develops that Bartholo, from The Barber of Seville, is Figaro’s father.) Figaro and Suzanne get married. The Count goes to the garden, thinking to find Suzanne but finds Rosine, dressed like Suzanne. Figaro sees them and, thinking it is Suzanne, gets jealous. Then Suzanne shows up, dressed like Rosine. Everyone soon recognizes everyone and all decide to live happily with their own spouses.

There’s also a bunch of silliness regarding a page named Cherubin who is in love with Rosine and keeps showing up in spite of the Count’s repeated efforts to get rid of him.

All very silly, but funny. I’d like to see this on the stage someday. It strikes me as every bit as clever as Shakespeare’s comedies, and a good deal funnier.
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