Psychological Themes of Zazà
Introduction
In my initial research of Leoncavallo’s adaptation of Zazà (originally an 1898 French-language play by Pierre Berton and Charles Simon) there are multitudes of relevant social and psychological themes. This is initially what drew me to the work. Themes explored in the lengthy libretto include the effects of poverty, single parent households, deception, infidelity, principles of attraction and the trauma response of turning toward familiarity, trauma bonding, neglect, double-lives, and sociopathy. In my research I also discovered disturbing facts relating to the sexism with regards to single-mother homes and female stage performers in fin-de-siècle Europe. In this blog I’ll explore some of these themes, their relevance to our lives, and how these issues also shape the lives of our characters.
Intense, Passionate Romantic Love: An Addiction?
Early-stage romantic love shows many symptoms of substance, non-substance, and behavioral addiction. Namely euphoria, craving, tolerance, emotional and physical dependence, withdrawal, and relapse.
Romantic love is a natural addiction that evolved from mammalian antecedents four million years ago as a survival mechanism to encourage hominin pair-bonding and reproduction.
Feelings of intense romantic love engage regions of the brain’s “reward system” specifically dopamine-rich regions, including the ventral tegmental area, also activated during drug and/or behavioral addiction
Obsessive, passionate love yield reactions similar to substance addiction that include intrusive thoughts about the partner, idealization of the other person or the relationship, a strong desire to know or be known, strong emotions about the other, and a need to maintain physical closeness.
Zazà’s obsessive romantic love for Milio Dufresne frequently stands in the way of reasoned decision making, even after the discovery that he has a wife and a child and is leaving the country.
Romance Addiction vs. Sex Addiction
Multiple affairs and extended affairs may be symptomatic of an addiction to sex, love, or romance. Love and romance addicts are driven by the passion of a new relationship, while sex addicts are compulsively drawn to the high and anxiety release that comes with sex.
Citation: Intense, Passionate, Romantic Love: A Natural Addiction? How the Fields That Investigate Romance and Substance Abuse Can Inform Each Other by Fisher, Xu, Aron, and Brown. Frontiers of Psychology, May 2016.
Affairs and The Impact of Discovery
Much of the dramatic tension of the opera revolves around Zazà’s discovery of Milio’s infidelity. Here we explore the fallout for such a discovery for an unsuspecting partner.
Following the initial disclosure of an affair, it is common for both partners to experience depression, including suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and a profound sense of loss. The reactions of the injured party can begin as acute stress that quickly resembles the symptoms of P.T.S.D.
Common reactions to the loss of innocence and shattered assumptions include obsessively pondering details of the affair; continuously watching for further signs of betrayal; and physiological hyperarousal, flashbacks, and intrusive images.
The most severely traumatized are those who had the greatest trust and were the most unsuspecting. The involved partner may fear that they will be punished forever for the betrayal while they mourn the lost dreams associated with the affair.
Zazà has a very human reaction to the revelation of Milio’s secret family. Her coping process goes through denial, idealism of Milio’s intentions, and eventually falls back on her challenging reality. Her depression is palpable when she exclaims “all is finished” as the curtain falls.
Trauma Bonding
Zazà experiences what psychologists refer to as a trauma bond in her relationship with Milio. Trauma bonding occurs when one’s romantic relationship mirrors the pattern of childhood trauma. She relies upon her partner to fix, save, and validate her existence. She betrays herself and all her needs in order to receive love.
Psychotherapist Alyssa Mancao (@alyssamariewellness) simplifies the trauma bonding process:
Child experiences abuse + rejection + love growing up
Child associates love with abuse
Child learns to shut down their feelings
Child blames themselves when bad things happen
Child internalizes that love hurts or is “hard”
Child grows up and meets a partner who is abusive (emotionally, physically, or psychologically)
Adult shuts down their feelings, wants, and needs
Adult blames themself for their partner’s behavior
Adult strives to be “good enough” for their partner
Partner reinforces this attachment by alternating between kind acts and acts of rejection.
Adult makes excuses for partner and is subconsciously trying to feel good enough for their parents.
Trauma bonded individuals’ relationships mirror the pattern of their childhood experience. Therefore, many gravitate towards toxic partners repeatedly in their adult life. Though it is unhealthy, there is a sense of comfort and familiarity.
Zazà has much trauma associated with her childhood. Her mother was a drinker and neglected her. This leads to unhealthy attachment which leads her to abandon her ambitions for what she envisions as her path to a peaceful and loving life, but really it’s a trauma bond to a man who is lying to her. Trauma bonded individuals will often betray themselves and all their needs in order to receive love.
Please join us March 25-27 in the Proscenium Theatre at the Performing Arts Center, SUNY Potsdam. Purchase tickets here.
The next post will be the first in a series of posts diving into Amélie. I’ll discuss the film and the musical adaptation that will be our mainstage production this coming fall.
Until next time,
A