Description
Scorn with Scorn
Book Summary
The reader is presented with one of the most brilliant comedies of intrigue from the Spanish Golden Age. Written by Agustín Moreto, the play explores the paradox of love through the story of Carlos, Count of Urgell, who falls in love with the elusive Princess Diana. Determined to win her over, the protagonist employs a bold psychological tactic: fighting her disdain with his own. This strategy gives rise to a plot full of witty dialogue, misunderstandings, and reflections on the nature of desire, making the work a sharp analysis of the psychology of love and the complexities of seduction.
What is it about?
Set in Barcelona, the comedy begins with Carlos, a man of great achievements, wallowing in despair over the unrequited love of Diana, a princess known for her elusive nature. His servant Polilla, with a realistic and compassionate sense of humor, tries to console him. The plot revolves around Carlos's decision to use indifference as a tool of seduction, a strategy that defies the conventions of traditional courtship. Through a classic structure of intrigue, the play unfolds plot twists and misunderstandings that maintain tension. Moreto uses poetic language and sharp dialogue to explore the central paradox: the object of desire becomes more attractive when it appears unattainable. The play not only entertains but also offers a profound reflection on love, desire, and human nature, while simultaneously presenting a portrait of the power dynamics and gender roles of its time.
Main Themes
- The psychology of love and desire, and the paradox of attraction to the inaccessible.
- The use of indifference and disdain as strategic tools in the game of seduction.
- The comedy of intrigue with its characteristic misunderstandings, equivocations, and plot twists.
- The sharpness of the dialogue and the exploration of human nature through the interaction between characters of different social classes.
- The social context of the Golden Age, with its gender roles and codified power dynamics.
Who is it recommended for?
This work is aimed at readers interested in classic Spanish literature, especially Golden Age theater. It is ideal for literature students and scholars, as well as fans of comedies of intrigue who are looking for an intelligent plot and witty dialogue. It will also be of great interest to those who wish to explore the psychological complexities of love and seduction from a historical and literary perspective.
What this book offers
- An immersion into one of the comedies most representative of Agustín Moreto's wit and psychological acuity.
- A profound and entertaining reflection on the paradoxes of love and desire, presented through a classic plot of intrigue.
- The pleasure of poetic language and dialogue filled with keen observations and humor, which reveal human nature.
- A work that, beyond entertainment, offers a valuable perspective on the society and romantic conventions of the Spanish Golden Age.
Technical Sheet
- Author: Moreto y Cabaña, Agustín
- Publisher: Linkgua Ediciones
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: CLASSIC TEXTS, PLAYS, THEATRICAL TEXTS
- Collection: THEATER
- Binding: Other
- Publication date: December 2017
- Number of pages: 136
- Weight: 170 g
Editorial Review
This edition from Linkgua brings the contemporary reader a masterpiece of classic Spanish theater that transcends mere entertainment. Scorn with Scorn stands out for its psychological acuity and brilliant use of language, offering a comedy of intrigue that invites reflection on the nature of desire. For an audience interested in the classics, it represents an opportunity to discover Moreto's mastery in the construction of dialogue and character, as well as a window into the romantic complexities of an essential era of world literature.