The Marriage of Figaro

The Marriage of Figaro Summary | Act 1 Part 1 Summary

In the bedroom Figaro and Suzanne are to share as husband and wife, Figaro measures the floor to determine the best place for the bed while Suzanne, the Countess's maid and Figaro's bride to be, tries on the wreath of flowers she's to wear at their wedding later that day. When Suzanne realizes this is to be their bedroom, she says she wants another room. Figaro explains that because it's close to the rooms of their masters, the Count and Countess, it's perfect. Suzanne explains that the Count wants to re-enact an old law that allowed a master to sleep with the wives of his servants, and that's why she doesn't want the room. Figaro reminds her that the Count rescinded that law when he got married, but according to Suzanne, Bazile says he wants to bring it back. Figaro says he now understands why the Count wants him to come on a diplomatic mission to London, so that he will bring Suzanne and the Count can have some fun. He begins plotting how to turn the situation to his benefit, and Suzanne teasingly tells him he's in his element, planning and scheming. As Figaro suggests that Suzanne pretend to go along with the Count in order to get more dowry money out of him, a bell rings summoning Suzanne to the Countess. She and Figaro kiss for luck, and Suzanne goes out.

Bartholo and Marceline come in. After teasing Bartholo about how he lost Rosine and Marceline about her plans to sue him for breach of promise of marriage, Figaro goes out. The conversation between Marceline and Bartholo reveals that Bartholo has been sent for because the Countess is ill, pining away because the Count is neglecting her, and that Bazile has plans to marry Marceline. They also talk about an affair they had years ago that resulted in the birth of a child who was adopted and hasn't been seen since. They plot to stop the marriage of Figaro and Suzanne so that Marceline can marry Figaro. Suzanne comes in carrying one of the Countess's dresses, which she places on a large chair. She and Marceline, who loathe each other, speak greetings of extreme politeness that mask increasing venom until finally Marceline, completely insulted by a reference to her being an old maid, rushes out, followed by Bartholo. Suzanne says to herself that she's become so angry she forgot what she came in for.

A young page, Cherubin, comes in and says he's been waiting to catch Suzanne alone. After some teasing conversation about how Cherubin is always running after the girls and the Count is always catching him at it, Cherubin confesses that he's in love with the Countess. He steals a ribbon that Suzanne has told him the Countess wears to bed at night. Suzanne grabs the ribbon back, at the same time accidentally grabbing a paper that has the words to a song that Cherubin has written for the Countess. Cherubin explains that in the last little while, he's been overcome again and again by passion, not just for the Countess but also for all women, even Marceline. He grabs the ribbon back from Suzanne, and they chase each other around the room.

The Count appears, and Cherubin hides behind the chair in terror. Suzanne worries about what the court will say if she and the Count are discovered alone together, but the Count sits and calmly reveals his plans for having Figaro and Suzanne accompany him to London. He invites Suzanne to meet him in the garden that evening and discuss it further, but before she can respond they hear Bazile outside the door. The Count panics and hides behind the chair just as Cherubin comes around in front of it and jumps in. Suzanne covers him with the dress just as Bazile comes in.