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Zemlinsky's lover, Alma Schindler, had left him for the much handsomer Gustav Mahler, and that may have influenced his choice of subject. In the story, the Dwarf has never seen his image or reflection so he does not know how dreadfully ugly he is. He amuses the Infanta or princess and she plays with him for a while. He falls in love, but she simply tires of him and moves on to other activities.

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