The political pot-maker

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Data
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
people
  • Hermann von Bremen , jug maker
  • Gesche , his wife
  • Engelke , his daughter
  • Antonius , her lover
  • Heinrich , apprentice at the jug maker
  • Annecke , maid
  • Gert , furrier
  • Franz , cutler
  • Sievert , tax collector
  • Richard , brush binder
  • The host
  • Arianke , blacksmith
  • Abrahams and Sanderus , alleged councilors
  • and other

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