In Hildesheimer's biography of Mozart the author thoroughly excoriates the
gender politics of "Cosi fan Tutte" (insisting that it's the behavior of
the men rather than that of the women which is reprehensible), and less
thoroughly runs down that of "Magic Flute" (saying that, unlike Da Ponte,
Schikaneder & Co.  simply didn't know anything about women).  The Queen of
the Night is a cruel person and a cruel woman although I don't see any
indication that she represents all women.

Aaron J. Rabushka
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http://www.cowtown.net/users/arabushk