Character of Mimi in La Boheme

In Puccini's La Boheme, Mimi provides an aria in Act I immediately following Rodolfo's aria in which he professes his hopes and dreams to her. In this aria, Mi chiamano Mimi, Mimi describes herself and her "poor" but "happy" life to Rodolfo, (John, 1982, p. 65). We see that the aria is highly emotion in nature because Mimi is explaining her lonely existence to her neighbor, Rodolfo, whom she loves. Coming in Act I, right after they meet, this aria is significant to the plot of the opera and its actions in a number of ways. First, the aria reveals that Mimi lives and eats alone. She repeats this three times to show just how much she feels alone in her life. Second, the aria reinforces one of the most significant recurring images in the opera, the seasons. For Mimi suggests that once the winter frost thaws, she looks toward the sky for "there first sunlight greets me� / Spring's first awakening kiss is mine!" (John, 1982, p. 66). This is important because it reveals Mimi as a romantic and connected to nature. It is also ironic because by the time the thaw comes it will not bring "fancies and visions bright" to Mimi, but will instead be the time of her death, (John, 1982, p. 66). Thus, we see that her internal hopes and dreams of love and kisses will not be fulfilled in reality.

The lyric poem of Mimi's aria conveys all of the nature and romance of springtime. Its words reveal her as a true romantic in character and also helps to convey the depths of her inn

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Category: Arts - C