The Marriage of Figaro by Beaumarchais (Book Analysis): Detailed Summary, Analysis and Reading Guide

By Bright Summaries

Unlock the more straightforward side of The Marriage of Figaro with this concise and insightful summary and analysis!

This engaging summary presents an analysis of The Marriage of Figaro by Beaumarchais, the sequel to his equally celebrated play The Barber of Seville. After helping his master Count Almaviva to secure Rosine’s hand in marriage, it is now Figaro’s turn to get married, but his happiness is threatened by Almaviva’s tireless attempts to seduce his fiancée Suzanne, as well as the surprise return of a debt from his past. The play’s overtly political reflection on the unearned privileges of the nobility and the difficulties faced by ordinary people attracted the ire of the French monarchy but drew praise from figures including Georges Danton and Napoleon Bonaparte, who believed that Figaro’s attempts to challenge the established order helped to pave the way for the French Revolution. The Marriage of Figaro is one of the most popular works by Pierre-Augustin Caron, better known as Beaumarchais, who was a key figure in both the political and literary scenes of 18th-century France.

Find out everything you need to know about The Marriage of Figaro in a fraction of the time!

This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you:
• A complete plot summary
• Character studies
• Key themes and symbols
• Questions for further reflection

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• Language: English
• Publisher: BrightSummaries.com
• Release date: Nov 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9782808011617

Book preview

FRENCH PLAYWRIGHT, POET, POLITICIAN AND MUSICIAN

Born in Paris in 1732.

Died in Paris in 1799.

Notable works:

Eugénie (1767), play

The Barber of Seville (1775), play

The Guilty Mother (1792), play

Pierre-Augustin Caron was born in 1732 and is best known by the surname he later adopted, Beaumarchais, which is derived from le Bois Marchais, an area of land that belonged to his wife. He initially followed in the professional footsteps of his father, who was a master watchmaker, before entering Parisian high society in 1759 as a music tutor for the daughters of King Louis XV (1710-1774). He gained a reputation as an incorrigible womaniser during this time, before being made Secretary-Councillor to the King, a position which saw him take on a number of diplomatic responsibilities.

Beaumarchais’ first real taste of literary success came in 1775, when his play The Barber of Seville was first performed. After falling victim to censorship and the outdated practices of the Comédie-Française (a prestigious French state theatre), in 1777 he founded the Société des auteurs dramatiques (Society of Playwrights), which is generally considered to be the origin of the modern idea of copyright. Beaumarchais died in 1799.

A THOUGHT-PROVOKING WORK OF SOCIAL CRITICISM

Genre: play (comedy)

Reference edition: Beaumarchais, P-A. (1964) The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. Trans.