The political pot-maker
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Title: | The political pot-maker |
Original title: | The politiske kandestøber |
Genus: | Comedy in 5 acts |
Original language: | Danish |
Author: | Ludvig Holberg |
Publishing year: | 1722 |
Premiere: | September 25, 1722 |
Place of premiere: | Lille Grønnegade Theater, Copenhagen |
Place and time of the action: | Hamburg |
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The political Kannengießer , danish The politiske kandestøber , is the first comedy by Ludvig Holberg . It was first performed in 1722. The title figure became proverbial: “ Kettle foundry ” means “gossip politicizing without much expertise”.
content
The play takes place in Hamburg and is about a citizen who actually has a normal job - he is a pot maker - but who has also read himself and has political ambitions. Together with his colleagues from the other guilds, he regularly meets in a "Collegium politicum", where they complain about the government and thrash phrases.
Some citizens are now taking the liberty of joking with the jug maker. Disguised as councilors, they make him believe that he has actually been elected mayor of the city. He informs his family and his life as mayor begins. He is immediately visited by citizens who bring difficult questions and decisions to him. This quickly gets out of hand and goes so far that he even wants to hang himself so that he no longer has to bear the responsibility as mayor.
In the end everything will be cleared up. The kettle maker sees his arrogance and renounces his political ambitions.
German-language editions
- The political pot-maker. Comedy in five acts. Translated from Danish by PJ Willatzen . Hall 1871. ( digitized version )
- The political jug maker in the Gutenberg-DE project