La Double Inconstance

Infobox Play
name = La Double Inconstance


image_size = 200px
caption = Title page from the first edition of "La Double Inconstance"
writer = Pierre de Marivaux
chorus =
characters = Le Prince Silvia Flaminia Arlequin Lisette Trivelin
mute =
setting = The prince's palace
date of premiere = 6 April 1723
country of Origin = France
original language = French
series =
subject = love, disguise
genre = Romantic comedy
web =
playbill_event =
ibdb_id =

"La Double Inconstance" is a three-act romantic comedy by French playwright Marivaux. Its title is usually translated into English as "The Double Inconsistency". "La Double Inconstance" was first performed 6 April 1723 by the Comédie Italienne. In this play, a young woman is kidnapped from her lover by the prince of the country, who loves her and intends to marry her. Through ruse and disguises, the prince and a trusty female servant manage to break up the relationship, resulting in two marriages.

Like many of Marivaux's , "La Double Inconstance" makes use of stock characters from the Commedia dell'arte. In this play, Arlequin and Trivelin are featured.

Plot summary

Silvia is a young bourgeois who loves and is loved by Arlequin. Prior to the opening of the play, the prince meets her and instantly falls in love with her. He pretends to be a simple officer of the prince and befriends her. He is required by law to marry a commoner, so he sends his forces to kidnap her.

The play opens with Silva in the palace, pining for her lover, Arlequin, who has also been brought to court. A female servant of the prince, Flaminia, devises a plan to separate the two lovers. She appeals to Silvia's vanity, by suggesting that she needs a more worthy lover. The prince, still disguised as the officer of the palace, continues to be her friend; and Silvia soon realizes that he is a better catch than Arlequin. Meanwhile, Flaminia befriends Arlequin and gradually seduces him away from Silvia. However, both Arlequin and Silvia feel endebted one to the other and are reluctant to separate.

When the prince finally reveals himself, both Arlequin and Silvia are relieved to know that they have an excuse to call of their engagement. The play ends with the union of the two couples: Silvia and the prince, and Flaminia and Arlequin.

Characters

* The prince
* Silvia - a bourgeois young woman, engaged to Arlequin, but beloved by the prince
* Arlequin - a bourgeois young man, engaged to Silvia
* Flaminia - a clever woman who is the prince's servant
* Lisette - Flaminia's less clever sister
* Trivelin - a male servant
* A nobleman
* Various servants

Adaptations

The play "La Double Inconstance" was adapted into a 1968 Made-for-TV movie in France.

External links

* * [http://cesar.org.uk/cesar2/titles/titles.php?fct=edit&script_UOID=106031 La Double Inconstance] on the French site [http://cesar.org.uk CÉSAR]