Honor: A Play in Four Acts

by Hermann Sudermann

"Honor: A Play in Four Acts" by Hermann Sudermann is a play written in 1889. It explores the clash between wealthy and poor families when a rich father has an affair with a young woman from the impoverished household. Her brother demands satisfaction through a duel but faces mockery instead. The play examines conflicting codes of honor across social classes, challenging conventional morality and questioning whether ethical standards shift with circumstances. Sudermann's theatrical debut became an immediate sensation in Wilhelmine Germany.