When Gelsomina, a na�ve young woman, is purchased from her impoverished mother by brutish circus strongman Zampan� to be his wife and partner, she loyally endures her husband’s coldness and abuse as they travel the Italian countryside performing together. Soon Zampan� must deal with his jealousy and conflicted feelings about Gelsomina when she finds a kindred spirit in Il Matto, the carefree circus fool, and contemplates leaving Zampan�.