Monologue

Figaro's lengthy monologue in act 5 breaks up the quick pace of the comedy. In the first part of the monologue, Figaro reflects upon Suzanne's faithlessness and deceit as well as the arbitrary nature of the aristocracy's power. In the second part, he recounts the numerous jobs he has held as a means of exploring his future. In the third and final part, Figaro reflects upon the course his life has taken.

While Figaro's monologue slows down the pace of the play at a crucial juncture, it serves to demonstrate that he possesses greater depth than his previous comic antics, as well as his irrational jealousy, might otherwise suggest. On a larger thematic level, the monologue challenges French society's tradition of honoring wealth and rank above merit. Some critics have interpreted Figaro's commentary on the social abuses of the aristocracy as a forecast of the impending French Revolution and...