Traveling around the world or getting acquainted with the works of foreign literature, sometimes you can stumble upon unusual appeals by local residents or heroes of works. For example, in Spanish there is the word “duena” to refer to a woman. But who exactly can be called so, so as not to offend or offend the lady, but to show respect for her?
Duenna - who is it?
Duenna is an old woman. So they turn to ladies of respectable age in Spain and Hispanic countries.
But referring to every elderly woman is not worth it. Historically, this word is a respectful designation of an old maid raising a young girl or a young woman noblewoman. The mentor follows her protégé everywhere and monitors her behavior.
Such ladies were supposed to be assigned to girls and young women of the upper classes. Even the Queen of Spain had her own duo mentor.
Meaning of the word in spanish
In Spanish, the word “duena” is written as dueña and literally means “mistress, mistress.”
Thus, in the Spanish and Hispanic culture, duana is a mistress who runs a household and watches someone. The image of an elderly mentor is formed by cultural features and traditions.
Other ways to pay respect to a woman
"Oh! Good, young donna! ”,“ My diamond donna, hello! ”,“ Donna Rosa was a venerable lady and, having buried don Juan, remained loved by his people. ” Who are these phrases about?
In addition to the “duenie”, a respectful address to a woman in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries can also be called “donna”. This word is of Italian origin. It comes from the Latin domina, which means "mistress." As you can see, its semantics are similar to the meaning of the word “duen”.
In the old days, the floor was called the wife of a nobleman, but nowadays they turn to a woman who evokes warm feelings. And if a duana is always a mother, realizing her duties not through the birth of a child, but through his upbringing, then the word “donna” implies the motive of sexuality and sensuality.
The meaning of the concept in other countries
In the Russian Empire of the XIX century, the role of a duenna was often performed by a nanny, who actually entered the family, becoming an important and respected participant in it. The teacher, mentor, assistant - she helped the girl, and later the young girl, get acquainted with the life, norms and rules of behavior that were expected from a young noblewoman. Many grown-up pupils maintained a warm relationship with their nanny all their lives.
A similar role was played by governesses in England and France. By the way, despite the fact that in culture and literature the image of the governess has developed as a callous and stiff old maid, withered by time, in reality, the teacher of the young person was not necessarily a woman in her years or was notable for being strict. The governess was required to observe moral principles and knowledge of life, education, the ability to take care of the welfare of a young lady. Just like a duet and a nanny, the governess could stay with her ward all her life and remain a friend of the family.
So duona - who is that? Until the middle of the 20th century, her image in literature and other forms of art was considered exclusively as comic. If you look from this point of view, then a duen is an old whisper who only knocks girls off the right path, pushing them into actions dictated by foundations, and not the dictates of the heart. A kind of stale imp on his left shoulder. For example, such is the image of a duen in the play by R. Sheridan, written in 1775, in the lyric-comic opera of S. S. Prokofiev, “Duen,” which later will be given the second name “Betrothal in a Monastery,” or in the film Gerard Uri, “Mania of Greatness”. The Soviet film based on the play of R. Sheridan is also known, which was very successful and did not depart much from the original intention of the author.