Don Juan

“Don Juan” and “Casanova” are both synonyms for “womanizer.” However, Don Juan was a fictional character and Casanova was a real-life figure. There are more differences; Don Juan was a callous user, whereas Casanova was genuinely fond of the women he seduced. To me, the crowning irony is that the real-life Casanova and the fictional Don Juan once met. Sort of.

His memoirs indicate that Casanova attended the opening night of the first production of Mozart’s opera, Don Juan. I wonder if he recognized anything of himself in the play.