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The Game of Love and Chance

Marivaux

The Game of Love and Chance

Paper book: €14.99

Digital: €3.99

Original publication
1730
Monolingual
22 October 2026
Pages
117
Difficulty
Medium
Genres
Theatre, Romance, Humor
Moods
Fall in love, Have a laugh, Savour the writing
Translated from
French

Book summary

Silvia is to marry Dorante, whom she has never seen. To observe him without being recognised, she takes the place of her maid Lisette. But Dorante has had exactly the same idea, and arrives disguised as a manservant. Each then falls in love with someone they believe to be a servant, and no longer knows what to do with their heart.

It is Marivaux's most famous comedy, a very subtle game of masks and feelings. Its author even gave a word to the French language: marivaudage.

Written in short, lively dialogue, it is easy to read in the language you are learning.

The plot

二つの変装を知る父。オルゴン氏は、娘のシルヴィアを旧友の息子ドラントと結婚させたいと考えている。シルヴィアは、正体を知られずにドラントを観察しようと、小間使いと入れ替わることを願い出る。父は承知する。だが彼は先ほど手紙を読んだところだった。ドラントも同じことを思いつき、召使いの姿でやって来るというのだ。父は何も言わず、こう思う。

The world of the book

1730年のパリ、イタリアから来た劇団。この戯曲は、パリに居を構えるイタリア喜劇団のために書かれた。登場人物の中には、演じる役者の芸名をそのまま持つ者がいる。ヒロインのシルヴィアは同名の女優が、その兄弟マリオは同名の男優が演じた。道化の召使いアルルカンは、イタリアの笑劇と同じく仮面をつけたままだ。当時は、娘の結婚相手を親が決めることが多かった。

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