Wallenstein
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Wallenstein is set in the winter of 1633-34. The play shows how relations gradually deteriorate between Wallenstein and his supporters (chief among them Illo and Terzky), and the Emperor’s supporters, led by Octavio Piccolomini. Caught in the middle are the lovers Max Piccolomini (a character invented by Schiller) and Wallenstein’s daughter Thekla. Max and Thekla’s allegiances are fatally divided, and their love is doomed by the resulting military conflict. At first Wallenstein seems to be toying with the idea of rebellion, and he hesitates to defy the Emperor openly. However, the mutual suspicions of the two sides reinforce each other and accelerate events. Wallenstein’s messenger to the Swedes is intercepted by Imperial forces, forcing him to act. Countess Terzky persuades Wallenstein to rebel by playing on his pride, but Wallenstein’s trust in Octavio Piccolomini is misplaced: Octavio secretly persuades Wallenstein’s generals to desert him. Max’s duty forces him to leave Thekla and, heartbroken, he dies in battle with Swedish forces. The tragedy ends with Wallenstein’s murder at the hands of his Irish general Buttler and his men. he themes of the play include: - the problem of free will versus destiny: to what extent is Wallenstein’s hand forced by events? What is the significance of Wallenstein’s belief in astrology? Consider also Buttler’s terrible assertion of free will in Wallensteins Tod, Act 4, Scene 8. - problems of moral legitimacy: to what extent is Wallenstein’s betrayal of the Emperor, and Octavio’s betrayal of Wallenstein justifiable? and to what extent is Buttler’s murder of Wallenstein legitimised by the Emperor’s letter? How can Max and Thekla reconcile their divided loyalties? - the contrasting influence of the written word and the spoken word (the pledge of loyalty that the generals are made to sign; the letters from the Emperor). - moderation versus excess: the modest Gordon, commander of the castle at Eger, acts as a counter-figure to Wallenstein’s towering ambition. Gordon is humane but ineffectual. - abuse of power: Wallenstein sacrifices to his own ambitions those closest to him, Max and Thekla.
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wallenstein
Transcript of Wallenstein
Wallensteinis set in the winter of 1633-34. The play shows how relations gradually deteriorate between Wallenstein and his supporters (chief among them Illo and Terzky), and the Emperors supporters, led by Octavio Piccolomini. Caught in the middle are the lovers Max Piccolomini (a character invented by Schiller) and Wallensteins daughter Thekla. Max and Theklas allegiances are fatally divided, and their love is doomed by the resulting military conflict. At first Wallenstein seems to be toying with the idea of rebellion, and he hesitates to defy the Emperor openly. However, the mutual suspicions of the two sides reinforce each other and accelerate events. Wallensteins messenger to the Swedes is intercepted by Imperial forces, forcing him to act. Countess Terzky persuades Wallenstein to rebel by playing on his pride, but Wallensteins trust in Octavio Piccolomini is misplaced: Octavio secretly persuades Wallensteins generals to desert him. Maxs duty forces him to leave Thekla and, heartbroken, he dies in battle with Swedish forces. The tragedy ends with Wallensteins murder at the hands of his Irish general Buttler and his men.
he themes of the play include:- the problem of free will versus destiny: to what extent is Wallensteins hand forced by events? What is the significance of Wallensteins belief in astrology? Consider also Buttlers terrible assertion of free will inWallensteins Tod, Act 4, Scene 8.- problems of moral legitimacy: to what extent is Wallensteins betrayal of the Emperor, and Octavios betrayal of Wallenstein justifiable? and to what extent is Buttlers murder of Wallenstein legitimised by the Emperors letter? How can Max and Thekla reconcile their divided loyalties?- the contrasting influence of the written word and the spoken word (the pledge of loyalty that the generals are made to sign; the letters from the Emperor).- moderation versus excess: the modest Gordon, commander of the castle at Eger, acts as a counter-figure to Wallensteins towering ambition. Gordon is humane but ineffectual.- abuse of power: Wallenstein sacrifices to his own ambitions those closest to him, Max and Thekla.
