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| «Garrote vil» (Ramon Casas - 1894) Relats conjunts |
"Long live cruelty and decadence!"
Joan smirks as he counts once more the gold coins he's earned from renting out his balconies.
"Didn't I tell you there was no better place in this city to invest your money, darling?"
"You're a genius, Joan." Smiling, Joanita steps behind him and kisses his neck. "That's precisely why I married you."
"I knew from the start that no one would want to miss such spectacles."
"I wonder if the executioner handles the garrote any better today than he did the other day, darling?"
"I hope not! The longer the condemned person suffers, the more entertainment for the public."
"I love your pragmatism, Joan."
"And I love the sight of your breasts."
"Don't you want to attend the execution, Joan?"
"I find executions decadent. I'd rather be with you."
And with that, Joan, the philanthropist, pulls his wife onto his lap.
Reminded me of 'A tale of two cities'
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mark. Dicken's tale was, of course, a tiny bit longer. ;-)
DeleteQuan ofereixes un "espectacle", no és estrany que aparegui algú disposat a aprofitar-ho per fer-ne negoci. En aquella època, l’Estat transformava la mort en un espectacle públic (amb un objectiu pedagògic i de control social); per tant, els qui anaven a veure les execucions seguien una pràctica socialment acceptada i els qui llogaven balcons simplement aprofitaven una oportunitat econòmica. Tot això era perfectament normal aleshores, i si avui, des de la nostra perspectiva, ens horroritza, és un senyal que hem avançat com a societat. Com a mínim pel que fa al tema de les execucions públiques; en canvi, altres espectacles actuals potser no tan morbosos (però gairebé) continuen tenint grans audiències.
ReplyDeleteMolt bona idea per al relat. M'ha agradat.
Salutacions!
Thanks for your com(pli)ment, dear Mc.
DeleteI see your point, however looking around at this planet, little has changed. People cheat, denounce, torture, and murder. You and I are just lucky enough not to experience any of it personally.
La pau de la nit!
Hi Sean - thanks for the introduction to Ramon Casas ... interesting artist - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteAn interesting artist he was, indeed, dear Hilary.
DeleteBon relat i bon retrat de les persones humanes...
ReplyDeleteSegur que aquestes persones existeixen realment 😓
Un aplaudiment Sean!
Abraçades.
And a dignified life for all would be so "easy" to achieve. ...
DeleteAbraçades, dear Carme.
La desgràcia per a uns, és la fortuna d'altres....
ReplyDeleteSalut !.
Yes, there are always those who suck honey from the misery of others.
DeleteSalut, Artur!
Hi ha persones que de tot treuen profit i així va el món. Però una cosa és el negoci i l'altra les coses realment importants, una vegada fet calaix, girem full. :-)))
ReplyDeleteMolt bona realitat!
Aferradetes, Sean.
If people concentrated on the most important things, life on this planet would be pure joy. ;-)
DeletePetonets, Paula.
I would say I'm astonished by what used to pass for entertainment, but then I think of what's on TV right now...
ReplyDeleteI think we are merely witnessing 'enormous progress'. Today, all it takes is some anonymous 'hero' to press a button, and shortly afterwards a wedding party thousands of kilometers away is bombed.
DeleteLa elección de Joan fue más correcta que la de ese público que a saber el porqué se creía que era un espectáculo digno. Muy bueno el diálogo con su toque de humor. Un abrazo
ReplyDeleteNuria, you make me smile.
DeleteDos abrazos. ;-)