Erdgeist

by Frank Wedekind

"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.