The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts by Honoré de Balzac
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"The Stepmother: A Drama in Five Acts" by Honoré de Balzac is a theatrical drama written in the mid-19th century. The play revolves around the complex dynamics of a family led by General Comte de Grandchamp, particularly highlighting the struggle of his daughter, Pauline, and her connections with those around her, including her stepmother, Gertrude, and a suitor named Godard. The narrative delves into themes of love, jealousy, and familial duty, set
against the backdrop of societal expectations in 1829 France. At the start of the play, we are introduced to the lavish drawing-room of the General’s chateau, where he and Gertrude discuss their daughter Pauline's prospective marriage. Gertrude expresses concern over the persistent gossip suggesting she is impeding Pauline's romantic opportunities. As the General favors Pauline’s freedom to choose her husband, Godard, a wealthy suitor, enters with intentions of courtship. The opening scenes unfold the tensions between Gertrude and Pauline, contrasting Gertrude's role as a devoted yet insecure stepmother with Pauline’s youthful aspirations and emerging affections for another man, Ferdinand. As familial bonds and romantic endeavors intertwine, underlying animosities and secrets begin to surface, setting the stage for the dramatic conflicts to come. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Balzac, Honoré de, 1799-1850 |
|---|---|
| Title | The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts |
| Credits | Produced by Dagny and John Bickers |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 84.4 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Subject | France -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Drama |
| Subject | French drama -- 19th century -- Translations into English |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 15878 |
| Release Date | May 23, 2005 |
| Last Update | Dec 14, 2020 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 379 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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