Monsieur d'Olive: Analysis of Major Characters
"Monsieur d'Olive" is a theatrical work featuring a complex interplay of relationships among its characters, set against a backdrop of jealousy, love, and reconciliation. Central to the narrative is Vandome, a noble gentleman and the platonic lover of Marcellina, who skillfully navigates the tangled plot with his intelligence and charm. Marcellina, consumed by anger towards her husband Count Vaumont, is driven by jealousy and ultimately breaks her vow of seclusion to confront her marital challenges. Count Vaumont, though initially depicted as jealous, experiences repentance, which adds depth to his character arc.
Supporting characters include Eurione, Marcellina's sister, who is caught in a love affair with Count St. Anne, Vandome's brother-in-law. Count St. Anne grapples with grief over his deceased wife, leading to an unusual attachment to her embalmed body, until Vandome encourages him to pursue a new love with Eurione. The Duke Philip serves as a friend and mentor to St. Anne, yet his attempts to guide him toward rational behavior lead to the humorous inclusion of the idle Monsieur d'Olive as an ambassador to the king. Monsieur d'Olive's character is marked by self-satisfaction and a penchant for frivolity, which influences the narrative’s comedic elements. Collectively, these characters embody themes of love, jealousy, and the complexity of human relationships within the play.
Monsieur d'Olive: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: George Chapman
First published: 1606
Genre: Play
Locale: An imaginary dukedom near France
Plot: Comedy
Time: Seventeenth century
Vandome (vahn-DOHM), a noble young gentleman, the platonic lover of Marcellina. He untangles all the complications of the plot with his intelligence and courtesy.
Count Vaumont (Voh-MOHN), the jealous but repentant husband of Marcellina. His jealousy leads her to take an oath to retire from society and turn night into day and day into night.
Marcellina (mahr-seh-LEE-nah), the angry wife of Vaumont. She allows Vandome to arouse her own jealousy over her husband's supposed infidelity and breaks her vow of seclusion to catch him. Reconciliation follows.
Eurione (ewr-YOHN), Marcellina's sister, in love with Count St. Anne.
Count St. Anne (sahn-TAHN), Vandome's brother-in-law. Loving his dead wife and grieved almost to madness, he keeps her embalmed body constantly with him. Vandome persuades him to speak to Eurione on his behalf. Seeing her, he falls in love with her and abandons his morbid worship of his dead wife.
Duke Philip, St. Anne's friendly superior. Failing to convert St. Anne to reasonable behavior, he decides to send an embassy to the king to request an order for the wife's burial. He chooses, humorously, the ridiculous Monsieur d'Olive as his ambassador.
Monsieur d'Olive (doh-LEEV), an idle, self-satisfied wit. Appointed as the duke's emissary, he wastes time gathering a host of followers and accepting money from them. Vandome's labors make the embassy unnecessary, but the duke graciously gives Monsieur d'Olive a place in his entourage.