What was Benavente's central idea about society?
My central preoccupation was with the 'humo de puros' – the smoke of cigars, symbolizing the superficiality and self-deception prevalent in the upper echelons of society. I observed how outward appearances and adherence to convention often masked a moral vacuity and a relentless pursuit of personal gain. Life, as I saw it, is a grand theatre where individuals play their roles, often driven by the 'intereses creados' – established interests and hidden agendas – that dictate their behavior. The drama unfolds not in grand battles, but in the quiet compromises and the subtle erosion of authenticity within the drawing-room.
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