The mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law: illusions of good living and plans for happiness.

[Barcelona?]: “El Abanico”, [1810–50?]

The difficult relations between a mother-in-law and her son’s wife are a humorous motif in various cultures, and this short theatrical text in Catalan shows how negative expectations about the relationship come to
dominate it. There is a clear implied irony between the violent domestic scene in the image, and the subtitle which indicates ‘illusions of good living and plans for happiness’.

In the first part the two women are, significantly, referred to by name, and they go through the motions of expressing hope for their relationship in the future. In the second part domestic peace unravels – more with grumbles and insults than anything more severe – and here they are referred to as ‘mother-in-law’ and ‘daughter-in-law’, now defined by cultural expectations.

S743.3.c.8.8(15)