Page:The thirty-six dramatic situations (1921).djvu/92

 DISCOVERY OF THE DISHONOR OF A LOVED ONE (The Discoverer; the Guilty One) From this Situation there results, almost immediately, a psychologic struggle similar to that of the Twenty-Third "Sacrifice of Loved Ones," but without the attraction of a high Ideal; this is replaced, in the present action, by the lash of shame.

A (1) — Discovery of a Mother's Shame: — "Madame Caverlet" by Augier; "Odette" and "Georgette" by Sardou; "Madame X" (Bisson, 1908); "Mrs. Warren's Profession" (Bernard Shaw); "Les Quarts d'Heure" (second part; Guiches and Lavedan, 1888). This sad destruction of a child's deepest respect and reverence is colored, in these works, by the terrors of the mother, by her blushes, by her remorse before the consequences of the past; through this last point the action ends in the Thirty-Fourth (Remorse). It remains unconnected in the second part of the "Marquis de Priola" (Lavedan, 1901).

(2) — Discovery of a Father's Shame: — "Vieille Histoire" (Jean Jullien, 1891); the dénouement of "Pierre et Thérèse" (Prevost, 1909).

(3) — Discovery of a Daughter's Dishonor: — Part of "La Fille du Depute" (Morel, 1881); of "Les Affaires sont les Affaires" (Mirbeau, 1902); "L'Oreille Fendue" (Nepoty, 1908).

B (1) — Discovery of a Dishonor in the Family of Ones Fiancee: — "L'Absente" (Villemer, 1889). Refinements of romance, whose mild tragedy consists in retard- 90