Adultery

Disciplines > Storytelling > Plots > Polti's Situations > Adultery

Description | Discussion | See also

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Description

Elements

• A Deceived Spouse

• Two Adulterers

Summary

The Deceived Spouse is cuckolded by Two Adulterers, one the partner of the Deceived Spouse.

Variants

A

1. A mistress betrayed for a young woman
2. A mistress betrayed for a young wife
3. A mistress betrayed for a girl

B

1. A wife betrayed for a slave, who does not love in return
2. A wife betrayed for debauchery
3. A wife betrayed for a married woman
4. A wife betrayed with the intention of bigamy
5. A wife betrayed for a young girl, who does not love in return
6. A wife envied by a young girl who is in love with her husband
7. A wife betrayed by a courtesan
8. Rivalry between a wife who is antipathetic and a mistress who is congenial
9. Rivalry between a generous wife and an impassioned girl

C

1. An antagonistic husband sacrificed for a congenial lover
2. A husband, believed to be lost, forgotten for a rival
3. A commonplace husband, sacrificed for a sympathetic lover
4. A good husband betrayed for an inferior rival
5. A good husband betrayed for a grotesque rival
6. A good husband betrayed for an odious rival
7. A good husband betrayed for a commonplace rival, by a perverse wife
8. A good husband betrayed for a rival less handsome, but useful

D

1. Vengeance of a deceived husband
2. Jealousy sacrificed for the sake of a cause

E

1. A husband persecuted by a rejected rival

Discussion

Adultery, whilst often considered a shameful social crime, is hardest of all for the cuckolded person whose trust in the adulterer is betrayed. They must not only suffer the agonies of betrayal, but must also face others who may point and laugh behind their backs or offer pitying sympathies.

The response of a person thus betrayed can be harsh, as they seek retributive justice, and their anger can lead to vengeance against the offending adulterers (one, other or both, depending on how the betrayed person attributes blame).

'Adultery' is the  of Georges Polti's 36 Dramatic Situations.

See also

Murderous adultery, Rivalry of superior and inferior, All sacrificed for a passion