Telling the Story of the Marriage of Figaro

The Marriage of Figaro 

     After watching the amazing film version of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro the character Suzanne stood out to me with her amazing voice and character presence. The character Suzanne is the Countess Rosine's maid. Suzanne is a sweet energetic character that really caught my attention even though she is a maid. I love how even though her character is not rich or of high class status, she still stuck out to me because of her grace and lively demeanor. Suzanne is engaged to Figaro and is a loyal and faithful finance to him. However soon she discovers The Count has eyes for her and wants to begin an affair with Suzanne. Suzanne being the kind lovey maid she is, turns down his offers but he only persists more. The Count wishes to end the marriage of Figaro and Suzanne by anonymously informing Figaro that Suzanne is having an affair. This causes conflict between the couple and almost costs them there marriage with each other.  

Cherubino hides behind Susanna's chair as the Count arrives,
 in Mozart's opera The Marriage of Figaro

     Since Suzanne is of a lower class status and a maid, she was easier to blame for an affair and seemed less loyal than someone like The Count or Countess. Suzanne played an important role in the story becasue she is essentially the person who is marrying Figaro. Suzanne is in love with Figaro and he loves her. There relationship is what this opera is about and there story is what carries the show along. Eventually, the Countess and Suzanne orchestrate a plan to prove Suzanne loyalty to Figaro. In the end The Count admits his dishonorable actions and agrees to the marriage of Figaro and Suzanne. Satire is the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. This Opera would be what I consider a Satire, becasue of the amount of humor, irony and ridicule to expose. This play used lots of satire to get the message across, to relate to the audience and to make us laugh. Satire is a way to dramatize things and since this is an Opera it was the perfect way to use satire to engage and entertain. 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, wrote Marriage of Figaro
1756-1791

     
     In Act 5, The Countess is disguised as Suzanne in order to prove Suzanne loyalty to Figaro and prove the Counts bad intentions. After the Countess dressed as Suzanne meets up with The Count, he attempts to seduce her and she appears to be into the idea of an affair. Figaro, who is watching the two of them from a distance, sees a women who appears to be Suzanne kissing The Count and becomes furious. Figaro charges the both of them and upon approaching them realizes The Countess is disguised as Suzanne and Suzanne is disguised as The Countess. The Count realizes he has been tricked by the women dressing up as each other. Figaro sees that they were only trying to prove the Counts intentions and show Suzanne loyalty to him. The Count and Countess approve the marriage of Figaro and Suzanne and they end up married. 

     

work cited:

Spencer, Mel. “Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro: a Beginner's Guide.” Classic FM, 12 June 2013, https://www.classicfm.com/composers/mozart/guides/marriage-figaro-synopsis-guide/.

“The Marriage of Figaro.” Cincinnati Opera, https://www.cincinnatiopera.org/marriage-of-figaro.