Analysis of: The Marriage of Figaro
The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the opera "The Marriage of Figaro" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Specifically it will discuss how the plot of the opera could be updated to modern times. The "Marriage of Figaro" is a "sequel" opera to Rossini's very famous "Barber of Seville" opera. The Count Almaviva and Countess Rosina are the main characters, and Figaro (who is the Count's valet), and his bride-to-be Susanna are the other couple in the affair. The Count wants to have an affair with Susanna, and the Countess finds out, and conspires with Susanna and Figaro to humiliate the Count. To top it off, another character, Cheribino, is interested in the Countess, which the Count does not like at all.The plot of this comic opera all revolves around love triangles and misplaced affections. It is not realistic in that the various sub-plots and situations are not based on reality, nor are many of the character's solutions. (Such as, the Count has abolished the archaic practice of "droit de seigneur," which is the right of the lo
He could attempt to have an affair with the daughter of one of his cabinet members, and of course, be found out and humiliated. Throughout the story, the daughter and her fiance (a young serviceman on duty guarding the leader's home), could conspire to ruin the world leader because of his advances, and the support characters could all have reasons of their own for wanting to see the leader topple from power. Characters hiding behind chairs and in closets is not realistic either, and yet, it works in this play, which is sarcastic and funny at the same time. The characters would seem even more absurd if they were supposed to be conservative world leaders, using hip-hop to communicate their feelings and ideas, so that would make a modern day audience laugh, as well. The entire story would have to have a slapstick humor quality to it, just as the opera does, and the characters would have to be caught in outlandish situations. In the end, the wife would forgive the leader, the daughter and her fiance would win over complications and marry, and the fiance would even find the parents who put him up for adoption long ago. It is not supposed to emulate real life, rather it is supposed to entertain, and it is so absurd that it is entertaining. It would all follow the basic plot of the opera, but the situations would be modern and more familiar to viewers. The leader's wife would join in the plot when she discovered her husband was planning an affair. The plot of the opera could certainly undergo updating to make it more applicable to modern times. rd to sleep with a maiden on her wedding night, but now wants to reinstate it so he can enjoy Susanna. As some other adaptations of ancient works have shown, modern music can fit with a traditional opera or play, and it seems that hip-hop would be a good addition to a play that is funny and sarcastic at the same time. Instead of the Count and Countess, the two main characters could be a world leader and his wife, who is known for his buffoonery and poor decision-making. The leader is not exposed to the world, and everyone celebrates the happy conclusion to the opera by singing and dancing.
Common topics in this essay:
Count Countess,
Countess Count,
Figaro Count's,
Mozart Specifically,
Marriage Figaro,
,
Susanna Figaro,
Countess Rosina,
plot opera,
Susanna Countess,
Barber Seville,
world leader,
slapstick humor,
comic opera,
marriage figaro,
daughter fiance,
main characters,
modern times,
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