Author
Frank Wedekind
1864-1918
Frank Wedekind (1864-1918) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
WikipediaBooks by Frank Wedekind
Frühlings Erwachen: Eine Kindertragödie
"Frühlings Erwachen: Eine Kindertragödie" by Frank Wedekind is a play written between 1890 and 1891. Three teenagers navigate the perils of adolescence in a sexually repressive nineteenth-century German society. Wendla seeks truth about reproduction from her evasive mother. Melchior, an atheist with forbidden knowledge, tries to educate his anxious friend Moritz. As desires awaken and questions go unanswered, the young characters face devastating consequences including pregnancy, expulsion, and suicide in this controversial foundational work of modern theater.
The Awakening of Spring: A Tragedy of Childhood
"The Awakening of Spring: A Tragedy of Childhood" by Frank Wedekind is a play written between 1890 and 1891. This foundational work of modern theatre follows three adolescents navigating the confusion and dangers of puberty in repressive nineteenth-century Germany. Wendla seeks answers about reproduction her mother refuses to give. Melchior possesses forbidden knowledge. Moritz struggles with fears he cannot comprehend. Their paths intertwine as sexual awakening collides with societal silence, leading to devastating consequences that sparked controversy and censorship for generations.
Pandora's Box: A Tragedy in Three Acts
"Pandora's Box: A Tragedy in Three Acts" by Frank Wedekind is a play written in 1904. The second part of Wedekind's Lulu plays, it follows the femme fatale Lulu after her prison escape for murdering her husband. From lavish Parisian society to a London garret, Lulu descends through increasingly desperate circumstances, accompanied by obsessive lovers and exploiters. This controversial tragedy explores lust, greed, and the ambiguous nature of its central character, culminating in a violent encounter with Jack the Ripper.
Tragedies of sex
"Tragedies of sex" by Frank Wedekind is a collection of plays written in the late 19th and early 20th century. Gathering Spring’s Awakening, Earth-Spirit, Pandora’s Box, and Damnation!, it confronts sexual desire, repression, and bourgeois hypocrisy with frank, unsettling drama. The pieces focus on volatile youth and predatory or compromised adults—most notably the schoolchildren Melchior, Wendla, and Moritz, and the magnetic Lulu—to expose how authority and morality deform private life. The opening of the volume frames the author as an avant-garde provocateur and precursor to Expressionism, then launches into the first stretch of Spring’s Awakening. We meet Wendla, chafing at being forced into adult decorum; schoolboys Melchior and Moritz, who debate sex and struggle under academic pressure; and girls who reveal domestic abuse, especially Martha. Moritz secretly checks the promotion lists and, provisionally passed, swings from relief to dread. In the woods, Melchior and Wendla spar over charity and morality before a disturbing moment in which she asks to be struck and he loses control. Subsequent scenes deepen the sexual awakening and confusion: Melchior’s candid discussions with Moritz (and his tolerant mother), Wendla’s mother’s evasions about where babies come from, Hansy’s furtive self-gratification, and a charged hayloft encounter between Melchior and Wendla. A letter shows Melchior’s mother refusing to fund Moritz’s escape, urging fortitude; Wendla drifts through the garden in dazed, secretive joy; and Moritz, by the river at dusk, edges toward despair.
Erdgeist (Earth-Spirit): A Tragedy in Four Acts
"Erdgeist (Earth-Spirit): A Tragedy in Four Acts" by Frank Wedekind is a play written in 1895. It follows Lulu, a enigmatic woman whose mysterious past and powerful allure leave destruction in her wake. As she moves from lover to lover—from a physician to a painter to a powerful newspaper publisher—each man projects his own desires onto her while her true identity remains hidden. When passion turns deadly, Lulu's fate spirals toward imprisonment and an ominous future detailed in the sequel, "Pandora's Box."
Such is Life: A Play in Five Acts
"Such is Life: A Play in Five Acts" by Frank Wedekind is a theatrical work written in the late 19th century. The narrative unfolds in a politically charged setting, focusing on the themes of power and societal upheaval against the backdrop of the King's downfall and a revolution led by the citizens of Perugia. The pivotal character King Pietro Folchi navigates the treacherous waters of loyalty, betrayal, and the very nature of rulership amidst the tumultuous demands for freedom from his subjects. At the start of the play, the scene is set in the throne room, where the King has been imprisoned, and the citizens of Perugia, emboldened by recent conflicts, gather to demand a new government. Various characters express their desires to either establish a republic or keep the monarchy under a new ruler. The tension escalates as Pietro Folchi ultimately claims the throne, despite the opposition from elements desiring true freedom. Princess Alma, the King's daughter, adds emotional stakes to the narrative as she desperately seeks her father's return while grappling with the political instability around them. This opening portion introduces the interplay of power dynamics and personal agendas, setting the stage for further conflicts in the ensuing acts.
Erdgeist
"Erdgeist" by Frank Wedekind is a play written in 1895. It forms the first part of Wedekind's pairing of "Lulu" plays, depicting a society torn by lust and greed. The story follows Lulu, described as "the primal form of woman," as she moves through a succession of marriages and lovers—each man projecting his own desires onto her mysterious identity. When her patron Dr. Schön attempts to control her fate, Lulu's actions lead to tragedy, setting the stage for her continued descent in the sequel.