Discovery of the dishonor of a loved one

Disciplines > Storytelling > Plots > Polti's Situations > Discovery of the dishonor of a loved one

Description | Discussion | See also

Previous: Crimes of love

Next: Obstacles to love

Description

Elements

• The Dishonorer
• The Guilty One

Summary

The Guilty One brings shame on their kin by a dishonorable act. They are discovered by the Dishonorer.

Variants

A

1. Discovery of a parent's shame
2. Discovery of a child's dishonor
3. Discovery of a sibling's shame or dishonor

B

1. Discovery of dishonor in the family of one's fiancee
2. Discovery that one's wife has been violated before marriage
3. Discovery that one's wife has been violated since the marriage
4. Discovery that one's spouse has previously committed a fault
5. Discovery that one's spouse has formerly been a prositute
6. Discovery of dishonor on the part of a lover
7. Discovery that one's mistress, formerly a prostitute, has returned to her former life
8. Discovery that one's lover is of bad character
9. Discovery that one's spouse is of bad character
10. Discovery that one's lover is specifically weakened

C

1. Discovery that one's son is an assassin

D

1. Duty of punishing a traitorous relative
2. Duty of punishing a son condemned under a law which the father has made
3. Duty of punishing a son believed to be guilty
4. Duty of sacrificing, to fulfil a vow of tyrranicide, a father until then unknown
5. Duty of punishing a wrongdoing relative
6. Duty of punishing one's mother to avenge one's father

Discussion

Honor and duty are close bedfellows and people who uphold them are held in high esteem within many societies and bring reflected glory on all who know them, especially their families.

In the reverse, those who break social rules bring dishonor to their kin. This can create a significant dilemma for their relatives or friends: should the guilty party be exposed? Should they be protected? Should they be punished by the family? In stories of dishonor we often empathize with the family, although if the guilty party is attractive (for example a young tearaway) we may associate with them also and perhaps think about our more wicked side.

'Discovery of the dishonor of a loved one' is the 27th of Georges Polti's 36 Dramatic Situations.

See also

Values