The humor is similar to that of many sitcoms, with a main male character as a “womanizer,” with his sidekick as the voice of reason. Sganarelle offers many asides during the play, providing humorous bits for the audience to enjoy. He also exists as the source of information about Don Juan and balances out the character. This is often used in television shows for both comedic and dramatic effect.
Gender relations, while much more proper in the era of the play, bear a striking resemblance to the present. As is true in today’s world, women are judged more harshly for having multiple partners, or, in this case, even dating around. Charlotte, for example, is criticized for allowing Don Juan to kiss her hand. It is as though it is the woman’s fault for being attractive rather than the man for not controlling himself. While circumstances are not quite that extreme today, there still is a certain undercurrent of different treatment for similar actions. Therefore, I would argue that Don Juan still holds pertinent to modern times, as it is a tale that both genders can relate to, and even poke fun at.
-Jacqui Larsen
