Duke Theodor von Gothland
| Data | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Duke Theodor von Gothland |
| Genus: | tragedy |
| Original language: | German |
| Author: | Christian Dietrich Grabbe |
| Publishing year: | 1822 |
| Premiere: | 1892 |
| Place of premiere: | Vienna |
| Place and time of the action: | Gotland |
Herzog Theodor von Gothland is a fateful drama by Christian Dietrich Grabbe and is considered one of the most original, but also darkest debuts by a German playwright.
The drama, which began in high school and was completed in 1822, tells the story of a fictional duke of the Swedish island of Gotland who, maliciously deceived, deviates from the path of virtue and becomes a bloodthirsty avenger and murderer. The action is triggered by the military conflict between the Christian Swedes and the pagan Finns, led by the African Berdoa. He wants to take revenge for the European crimes and his personal slavery and uses Duke Theodor von Gothland as a weapon: When his brother dies, Berdoa persuades him that the third brother, Chancellor at the Swedish court, is responsible for the death. Gothland believes this lie and now swings himself up to become an avenger. He kills his brother and betrays the Swedish king by going over to the Finns. In the further course of the plot he casts off his wife and his old father and delivers his own son to Berdoa's intrigues. Even when he realizes that he has been deceived, he does not deviate from his bloody path and in the end looks indifferently towards hell, since he has recognized: It is almighty malice that guides the world and rules it.
Grabbe's first work shocked contemporaries with his cynicism and the pessimistic worldview conveyed by the dialogues. The sometimes bloodthirsty scenes also overwhelmed the readers and critics, even if Ludwig Tieck and Heinrich Heine recognized the power of words and the talent of the young Grabbe . Influences from William Shakespeare are especially noticeable in the figure of Berdoa, who is reminiscent of the hateful African Aaron from Titus Andronicus . An influence from Lord Byron can also be seen. Duke Theodor von Gothland saw its first performance long after Grabbe's death: in Vienna in 1892.