Lovelace, Don Juan, ladies' man - in the days of our grandparents, gallant courteous men were called so. They knew how to deftly "approach the pen", that is, kiss the lady's hand, say an ornate compliment, were pleasant in communication and extremely seductive. The days of sophisticated gentlemen are long gone. But the words that define this type of men have remained in our language, although they are used quite rarely. Let's get to know them better!
Dictionary tour
As always, to reveal the meaning of a word, let's turn to explanatory dictionaries. And they say that a womanizer is a seducer of women, a red tape (who drags after them, that is, takes care of them), is constantly looking for new love adventures, and is fickle in relationships with ladies. Synonyms for the word are the names "Casanova", "Don Juan", "reveler", "libertine", "heartthrob". Now Lovelace is a common noun. However, it comes from its own - the name of the hero of the work of art.
Ah, those sentimental novels
In the first half of the 18th century sentimentalism dominated Western literature. This area was characterized by increased attentionthe writer to the psychological states of a person, his emotional experiences, the world of feelings - "sentiment". Lovelace is the name of the protagonist of the moralizing sentimental novel by the English writer Richardson Clarissa, or the Story of a Young Lady. A young girl, thin, tender, sensitive, romantic nature, becomes a victim of treacherous harassment and seduction of an intelligent, prudent, cynical, treacherous aristocrat with the appearance of an angel. With the publication of the book, the name Lovelace took root in society. This word has become a household word for windy men striving for easy, unpromising love affairs, flirting, adventure.
Charm of villainy
Richardson's novel was a wild success not only among the English reading public. Its content was well known to the educated part of the population of Western and Eastern Europe, as well as the New World. In Russia, ladies read to them, dreaming about the fatal hero-lover. Pushkin in "Eugene Onegin" says that his Tatyana fell in love with "the deceptions of both Richardson and Rousseau." The author of the work even complained that his negative character, a womanizer man, was more popular than the virtuous and decent Clarissa. Critics of that time, as well as today, are unanimous in their opinion that Richardson's Lovelace is one of the most striking, original and interesting characters in English literature. This is an image of "Satan" in the "guise of a gentleman" - charming, witty, fearless, courageous and not knowing pity.
This is interesting
Having found out who the womanizer is, we will continue our research. From the pages of the novel, the name stepped into the big world and was picked up by other writers, already in the same 18th century becoming a household name. However, having entered into wide word usage, it is written in Russian somewhat differently than in the original language. The English have the correct surname - Lovelace, which means "love lace". That is, Richardson called the hero so for a reason, and with a hint of his ability to weave love affairs, like craftswomen weave lace: elegantly, subtly, cunningly, sophisticatedly. The Russian version arose, perhaps by analogy with the word "catch" - womanizer. Synonyms for him were selected appropriate: libertine, windy, don Juan. But the same Pushkin, an excellent connoisseur of literature, with a subtle linguistic instinct, in Onegin used the correct form of the surname - "Lovlas". And the Lovelaces are a very common surname among the English!
And I recognize the cute one by…
Remarkable examples of the heartthrob were given to us by our Russian literature. Remember Onegin! He was a true genius of the "science of tender passion" - flirting and seduction. What Pushkin writes about this: from his youth, Eugene could “be hypocritical, seem languid, languish, dissuade, make believe”, was “languidly silent” and “fieryly eloquent”. It cost nothing to Onegin to disturb the hearts of the “note coquettes”, to fall in love with himself, then, in the current language, “quit”. A womanizer guy - this is how today's youth would describe him. And, in fact, she would be right! Another wonderful example of heartbreak -Pechorin from "A Hero of Our Time". As if by notes, he played the seduction of Princess Mary. Managed to fall in love with Bela. Vera was a victim of his fickle nature for many years. As the hero himself rightly noted, his feelings were not a source of happiness and joy for women, but disappointment and unfulfilled hopes.
Psychological portrait
Let's try to bring out the characteristic features of a real ladies' man. First of all, these are men who are completely self-confident, proactive, able to take everything under their control - from the first steps of seduction to the denouement of the novel. It is easy for them to take and get acquainted with the lady they like anywhere: in transport, cafes, on the street, in companies. And even if a woman is already married, or she has a fan - it doesn’t matter, this fact will not stop a real Casanova. On the contrary, he will give the situation the sharpness and piquancy that this type of men needs so much. After all, the ladies' man is more likely not interested in the end result, but in the process of "hunting", the development of tactics and strategies and their phased implementation. Naturally, such men are devilishly charming, courteous. Some put on a romantic air and act accordingly. Armfuls of flowers, beautiful courtship, gifts, candlelit dinners - womanizers themselves enjoy the intrigue they are leading. After all, often they are real aesthetes! And playing on the tender strings of the female soul for such people is a real pleasure. Whether it is worth succumbing to seducers depends on the ladies themselves. If you want vivid impressions, a holiday today, but without the hope that it will last tomorrow, thenLovelace is the perfect gentleman for you. Afraid of being left with a broken heart - stay away from him!
