Esther (Grillparzer)

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Data
Title: Esther
Genus: fragment
Original language: German
Author: Franz Grillparzer
Publishing year: published 1868; created between 1829 and 1840
Premiere: March 29, 1868
Place of premiere: Burgtheater , Vienna
people
  • king
  • Mordecai ,
  • Esther
  • Haman
  • Tsares
  • Theres
  • A captain

Esther is an unfinished drama by the Austrian writer Franz Grillparzer based on the biblical book of the same name . Like Die Jüdin von Toledo and Ein Bruderzwist in Habsburg , the Esther fragment is one of those works by Grillparzer that were only found in his estate.

Templates and role models

In addition to the biblical model, Grillparzer may have known the drama La Hermosa Ester (1610) by Lope de Vega and the tragedy Esther (1689) by Jean Baptiste Racine . A direct influence of one of the two pieces cannot be proven in his drama.

Table of contents

The fragment consists of the first two acts and the beginning of the first scene of the third act. There are several plans for the progress of the piece, some of which contradict one another.

The plot begins with Queen Vasthi being rejected , resulting in court intrigues. While looking for a successor for the queen, the king meets the young Jewess Esther. Both take a liking to each other, but she hides from him that she belongs to the Jews. Her uncle, the scholar Mordechai , has the king warned of an attempted murder by Vasthi's followers. Here the piece breaks off.

To the plot

In the course of the plot, Grillparzer follows the biblical model, but deviates from it in the characterization of his characters, as far as this is recognizable, in essential points, also with regard to the motivation for their behavior. The events experience a profanation that benefits the liveliness of the figures.

Character characteristics

It is noticeable that the fragment definitely supports the female figures.

  • Queen Vasthi does not appear as a person, but she is clearly shown as a victim of male arbitrariness by her confidante Zares (Haman's wife), who reports on the repudiation.
  • Here Esther is not a humble, pious girl who is raised to the rank of queen without being asked, but reacts to the ordered display at court with open indignation. In contrast to the other young women, she refuses to seek the favor of the king, instead confronts the ruler quite impartially and confuses him with her honesty and the selfless suggestion that his abandoned wife should be restored to her old rights. However, it is precisely because of her openness that she fascinates the king. When he finally hands her the wreath intended for the new queen, it is precisely his insecurity - he fears that she will refuse - with which he ultimately wins her over.

Historical references to the time of origin

  • According to Grillparzer's own statement, the trigger for this piece was the marriage between the Catholic Archduke Karl of Austria and the Protestant Countess Henriette von Nassau-Weilburg in 1815.
  • The scenes between the schemers at the royal court occupy a large space in Esther . It is assumed that Grillparzer was looking at actual conditions at the court of the Emperor of Austria.

reception

The fragment was first published in 1863 in Emil Kuh's book of poets from Austria . The haunting, richly sentient dialogues of the scenes preserved and the gripping plot have earned Esther great appreciation, even though it is a fragment and relatively short. The piece has even been performed a few times.

Secondary literature

  • Kindler's New Literature Lexicon . Study edition. Munich, 1988. Vol. 6, pp. 892f.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Kindler's New Literature Lexicon . Study edition. Munich, 1988. Vol. 6, p. 892
  2. ↑ Kindler's New Literature Lexicon . Study edition. Munich, 1988. Vol. 6, pp. 892f.
  3. ↑ a b Kindler's New Literature Lexicon . Study edition. Munich, 1988. Vol. 6, p. 893
  4. ↑ http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno-buch?apm=0&aid=252&teil=0212&seite=00000003&zoom=2