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Why does Sofronia slap Don Pasquale in Act III?
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In Act III of Gaetano Donizettiās opera Don Pasquale, "Sofronia"āwho is actually Norina in disguiseāslaps Don Pasquale after he attempts to bar her from leaving the house and insults her by calling her a hussy.1
This confrontation is part of a larger scheme orchestrated by Dr. Malatesta and Norina to manipulate Don Pasquale. By acting as an extravagant, disobedient, and sharp-tongued wife, Norina aims to make the elderly Pasquale so miserable that he becomes desperate to end their marriage, thereby clearing the way for her to marry his nephew, Ernesto.12