Although he was unimpressed by the literary quality of the drama he had to set, Debussy was encouraged by the prospect that his work would be performed at the Paris Opéra and earn him some money.
Trots att han inte var imponerad av dramats litterära kvalitet uppmuntrades Debussy emellertid av tanken att få sitt verk uppfört på Parisoperan och därigenom tjäna en del pengar.