The Story Behind Manon Lescaut

The Story Behind Manon Lescaut

Manon Lescaut was Puccini's first huge success. This essay will describe the story behind this opera.

Act I

The first act takes place in a village. Des Grieux reads poetry to an audience of people hoping to impress a woman to fall in love with him. This does not work for him. However, a coach arrives carring Manon and Lescaut. Des Grieux introduces himself and askes Manon her name. She replies telling him that her name is Manon Lescaut. Her brother calls her to the inn, and Manon tells Des Grieux that she will see him again at night. When Manon sees Des Grieux, she tells him that when she leaves, she will be forced to join a convent, which is a life that she does not want. Des Grieux offers to take her away from this life. After their conversation, a student suggests that Manon run off to Paris with him. That's exactly what she does. When her father comes looking for Manon, Lescaut tells him that she ran off with a student to Paris. After hearing about this, they both start after them.

Act II

The second act takes place in a luxurious room in Paris, where Manon is living a life of luxury. She has left Des Grieux, and wants to rejoin him. When Des Grieux arrives, he is upset about Manon leaving him for this life, and he refuses to reunite with Manon. Manon then pleads very hard to get Des Grieux to reunite with her. Des Grieux eventually gives in and they are both reunited. After this happens, Lescaut arrives to warn Manon that her father sent soldiers out to arrest her for running away from joining the convent. Manon tries to gather her treasures together, but Des Grieux and Lescaut try to convince Manon that she must leave now. After Manon gathers her jewels, she goes for the door, but it is too late. She gets arrested.

Act III

The third act takes place outside a harbor where Manon is being held prisoner. She is to be banished to America. Des Grieux arrives to attempt to break Manon out of her holding cell to be with her. The attempt fails because the guards arrive to escort the women from the prison to the ship that will take them to America. Des Grieux tries to comfort Manon, but is overpowered by the guards. He offers his services as a cabin boy on the ship just to be with Manon. The captain agrees to his terms, and Des Grieux goes to America with all the women incuding Manon.

Act IV

The fourth act takes place in a desert outside of New Orleans. Manon is dying from heat exhaustion , but Des Grieux is still able to move along. Des Grieux offers to find water and shelter for the both of them, but Manon wants to be with him no matter what. Manon eventually gives in and lets Des Grieux look around for shelter or water. While Des Grieux is out looking, Manon thinks he left her, but Des Grieux returns to tell Manon that there is no water or shelter in sight. As a result Manon dies from heat exhaustion in Des Grieux's arms and the opera ends.