About Turandot... once upon a time a Princess didn't want to marry any man. She was used to mention her aunt raped when she was a child.
So she proposed to her father a contest. No reality, no TV, no twitter about it. Just three enigmas that any Prince could solve.
If successful, she had to marry the Prince. If not, he had to loose his head on the ground. Quite literally, unfortunately.
A cruel woman? A woman with no other chances in that kind of world? Who knows...
Anyway, when you create an enigma, somewhere a solver is just ready for it.
Calaf is a Prince. His name is secret because he his a sort of refugee.
After many heads on the ground he solves all the enigmas. Reluctantly Turandot accepts to marry him. Even if she doesn't love him.
But he want her love not just her hand in marriage.
So, now, he gives her another chance, another contest: his name. If Turandot guess his real name, he will leave his head on the ground. Literally, of course.
After that, Calaf, waits for the dawn ("All'alba vincerò", he sings in the Opera, "I will win at dawn", if you have ever heard Pavarotti singing)
After a whole night Turandot doesn't find his name.
And yet, Calaf gives her another chance.
He reveals his name to her: "my name is Calaf, Princess... Now you know it... you can have my head".
So, one of two: he is the greatest seducer in the Universe or he is completely idiot.
The first one is true.
When he says that, the cruellest (or the most desperate?) woman in the ancient world, is won. She doesn't want his head anymore. His heart is more than enough to her.
Calaf refuse to use his visible power, he gives his power to her, he gives her the chance to choose.
It was the only possible reason for her to love a man. No rape. Just an armless devotion...
So Calaf was the greatest seducer. He used his hidden power: his weakness.
Just to take him as an example...
