Page:The thirty-six dramatic situations (1921).djvu/95

 TWENTY-EIGHTH SITUATION OBSTACLES TO LOVE (Two Lovers; an Obstacle) A (1) - Marriage Prevented by Inequality of Rank: - "NiteW and "The Chinese Hero" by Metas- tasio: "Le Prince Soleil" (Vasseur, 1889); second act of "La Vie Publique" (Fabre, 1901); "Ramuntcho" (Pierre Loti, 1908); "L'EmigrS" (Bourget, 1908). This is the sentimental-philosophical Situation of a great number of eighteenth century works ("Nanine," etc. ), in which a lord invariably falls in love with a peasant girl. In ( leorge Sand, on the contrary, it is always a lady who is in love with a man of inferior rank; a sort of literature which at least has inspired many gallanl adventures of our own time. The addition of one more little obstacle the marriage bond furnishes the pretexl for the real intrigue of "Ruy Bias." 2 Inequality of Fortune an Impediment to Marriage: "Myrtille" and in part "Friend Fritz" by Erckmann-Chatrian; "L'Abbe Constantin" by Halevy; "La Petite Amir" Brieux, L902); "La Plus Faible" (Prevost, L904 ; "La Veuve Joyeuse" (Meilhac, Leon and Stein. L909 : "!-<• Danseur Inconnu'* Bernard, L909): "La Petite Chocolatiere" Gavault, L909); "Primeroser "Le Kevc" from Zola's story by Bruneau); in fiction; "Le Bonheur <<-> Lames" to mention only the more estimable works, leaving ;Lside the endless number of trivial plays imitative of Scribe, and the Romances of 9a