In Act I, Part II, the Count finds himself cornered and his plans foiled at just about every turn. This scene is only the beginning, however, with the rest of the play dramatizing how increasingly desperate he and the other characters become, as people continue to foil the Count's plans. This mutual and simultaneous feeling of desperation is a key element of farce, with the desperation of the Count and Figaro in particular foreshadowing choices and challenges to come.
The Marriage of Figaro