试译《乔治·波尔蒂的36种戏剧性情境》之二十四：优劣竞争
情境二十四：优劣竞争
要素
竞争中优势一方
竞争中劣势一方
竞争目标
概要
优势一方与劣势一方争夺某种目标。
变体
A
1. 平凡者和不凡者竞争
2. 不同级别的神竞争
3. 巫师和普通人竞争
4. 征服者与被征服者竞争
5. 胜利者和失败者竞争
6. 主人和被放逐者竞争
7. 宗主国国王与附庸国国王竞争
8. 国王和贵族竞争
9. 当权者和暴发户竞争
10. 富人和穷人竞争
11. 受尊敬的人和受怀疑的人竞争
12. 两个势均力敌的人竞争
13. 两个势均力敌的人竞争，其中一人过去犯有通奸罪
14. 被爱者和无权爱人者竞争
15. 前夫和现任竞争
B
1. 女巫和普通女人竞争
2. 胜利者和囚犯竞争
3. 女王和臣子竞争
4. 女王和奴隶竞争
5. 贵妇和仆人竞争
6. 贵妇和地位低的女人竞争
7. 两个势均力敌的人竞争，由于其中一人放弃而情况更复杂
8. 记忆和理想（一个贵妇的理想）以及附庸者之间竞争
9. 平凡者和不凡者竞争（似乎与A第1条重复）
C
1. 多重竞争(A vs B vs C vs D)
D
1. 不凡者之间竞争
2. 平凡者之间竞争
3. 两个合法妻子之间竞争
竞争这个主题含义丰富，如上所述，有很多内容不同的子情境。在生活中，我们经常接触竞争，工作中为了晋升而竞争，为了爱情与第三者竞争，等等。
竞争往往伴随着嫉妒，它会使简单的竞争关系发展为敌人间的厌恶和仇恨。
当一个人在某些方面优于另一人时，看起来他占据上风，势在必得。但处于劣势的竞争者可以采用其他手段。如果劣势竞争者品行恶劣，他可能会使用邪恶的花招，例如诋毁或毒害优势竞争对手。如果恰恰相反，那么劣势竞争者会赢得他人的支持，或者识破优势竞争者的邪恶行为。
当竞争对象是另一人时，此人便被赋予了巨大的权力，他可以根据自己的意愿慎用或滥用权力。因此，他也是故事中的一个重要角色。竞争对象将权力赋予劣势者以制衡优势者，是一个典型的故事形势，为三角关系埋下伏笔。
Rivalry of superior and inferior
Description
Elements
The Superior Rival
The Inferior Rival
The Object of Rivalry
Summary
The Superior Rival is set against an Inferior Rival, both vying for the Object of Rivalry.
Variants
A
1. Rivalry of a mortal and an immortal
2. Rivalry of two divinities of unequal power
3. Rivalry of a magician and an ordinary man
4. Rivalry of conqueror and conquered
5. Rivalry of victor and vanquished
6. Rivalry of a master and a banished man
7. Rivalry of suzerain king and vassal king
8. Rivalry of a king and a noble
9. Rivalry of a powerful person and an upstart
10. Rivalry of rich and poor
11. Rivalry of an honored man and a suspected one
12. Rivalry of two who are almost equal
13. Rivalry of equals, one of whom has in the past been guilty of adultery
14. Rivalry of a man who is loved and one who has not the right to love
15. Rivalry of the two successive husbands of a divorcee
B
1. Rivalry of a sorceress and an ordinary woman
2. Rivalry of a victor and a prisoner
3. Rivalry of a queen and a subject
4. Rivalry of a queen and a slave
5. Rivalry of a lady and a servant
6. Rivalry of a lady and a woman of humbler position
7. Rivalry of two who are almost equals, complicated by the abandonment of one
8. Rivalry between a memory and an ideal (that of a superior woman) and a vassal of her own
9. Rivalry of mortal and immortal
C
1. Double rivalry (A vs B vs C vs D)
D
1. Rivalry of two immortals
2. Rivalry of two mortals
3. Rivalry of two lawful wives
Discussion
Rivalry is a rich general theme and many different sub-situations of rivals in different contexts can be found, as indicated above. In our own lives, also, we often find rivals, ranging from those who would seek promotion against us at work to rivals for the affection of third another.
Rivalry can include elements of both envy and jealousy, which can both spill over from simple competitive respect to dislike and hatred of enemies. When one person is superior in some way to another, then they may seem to have the upper hand and are bound to win. However the inferior rival can employ other means. If the inferior rival is bad, they may use evil subterfuge, for example discrediting or poisoning the superior rival. Where the inferior rival is good, then they may win support from others or perhaps see through the evil ways of the superior rival.
Where the object of rivalry is another person, this person is given significant power, which they can respect or abuse according to their will. They thus join in the story and may be a major character. A typical pattern is where they add their power to the inferior person, thus counterbalancing the power of the superior person. It is also easy for triangular games to ensue.
