Paper
“What is life and what is its meaning?” August Strindberg asked
this question many times throughout his life. He questions human
existence, good and evil, happiness and sorrow, from the beginning of
mans life until the end, in every thing he writes. He wrote novels,
plays, poetry and over 7,000 letters. The collected works consists of 55
volumes. Strindberg was known best for his expressionist plays that he
had made throughout his life.
August Strindberg was born in Stockholm in 1849. Before he became
a writer he studied at Uppsala university and worked as a librarian and
a journalist. In 1877 he married Siri Von Essen with whom he had three
children, Karin, Greta and the son Hans. After twelve years they divorce
and Strindberg, not feeling appreciated in Sweden, moves to central
Europe. After a couple of years of “artist life” with people like and
he marries the young Austrian Frieda Uhl . After a stormy year
travelling in Europe they divorce. Then for his third marriage Harriet
Bosse became his wife. But that marriage also ended in divorce.
Historian’s say that the reason his plays are expressionistic is that
most of them model his experiences in life.
Strindberg was thought to be one of the greatest within world
literature. He was the gentleman, a man of the world, who was polite and
friendly and knew how to behave in literary circles and other important
occasions. But he could also turn his back on the world, when something
happened in his life and he detested everything and everybody.
Strindberg’s early works were mostly novels and plays they are strongly
naturalistic. They were written in to go against the widespread
romanticism that was in Swedish literature. Strindberg was an known as
“the godfather” of naturalist drama. He was so far ahead of his time
that he never really enjoyed the success that his talents deserved.
People back then could not truly appreciate his writings, so therefore
he could not truly appreciate his success.
At first his plays were too realistic, and the effects of those
plays were much too weak. Soon he decided to be more expressionist in
his plays. Those expressionistic plays came in two parts. First in
1914 to 1915 then from 1919 to 1922. These plays were more successful
then his realistic plays were. Strindberg kept writing throughout his
life, but eventually died of stomach cancer in May of 1912.
“A Dream Play” was maybe the first drama to engage a dream-like
reality as a genre in itself. Traditionally plays have included scenes
illustrating dreams or nightmares, but none have based an entire play
around them. By doing this, Strindberg abandoned conventional
perceptions of time and space. In this play he gave off an illusion of
how the dream world was. “A Dream Play” was written in 1901 and first
produced in 1907. “A Dream Play’s” premiere was at the Swedish Theatre
on April 17, 1907 with Harriet Bosse (who was his third wife) as Indra’s
daughter. Its most successful premiere was in Germany on March 17,
1916.
He believed that all of man kind was placed on a trial. It was
one of Strindberg’s most personal plays. He combined the techniques of
dramatic with his own conception of psychology, including unaffected
dialogue, simple scenery, and the use of stage props as symbols. With
that he began a new movement in European drama. In “A Dream Play,” the
daughter of God comes to Earth – and discovers that things are every bit
as bad as she’d heard – and worse.
“A Dream Play” largely established theatrical modernism. Some
historians place modernism as starting with the Industrial revolution.
Modernism first became evident in art works around 1850 with the realist
movement, then impressionism. It is a cultural movement which rebelled
against Victorian ideals. Modernists emphasized the ways in which
humans were part of and responsible to nature. They argued for multiple
ways of looking at the world. Which is exactly what Strindberg did with
a dream play. He took reality, and made it into a dream world.
In this story things change in a matter of seconds. There would
be one group of characters talking about one thing, and in the next
second, it changes to different characters talking about another thing.
Yet throughout the whole story line the Daughter of Indra is there
believing that man should be pitied. The scenery also changes as
quickly as the characters. A lemon tree can turn into a coat rack in an
attorneys office as quickly a castle can grow. Throughout out the whole
entire play one sees all the troubles the Daughter of Indra has seen.
As she bids her farewell she remarks that she could feel the utter pain
of being and of living.
By writing “A Dream Play,” Strindberg created this new theory of
expressionism and modernism. He created a genre of a dream world.
With this new genre, he modeled his own experiences into his dream
world. “A Dream Play” constituted a beginning for more playwrights to
become inspired and more expressionistic in the theater world.
“August Strindberg.” www.extrapis/astrindberg.html. May 6, 2001
Holm, Ingvar. “Theories and Practice in Staging ‘A Dream Play’”
Strindberg’s Pramatongy. ed. Jovan Stockenstroin. US Minn Press. 1998
Paulson, Arvid. Eight Expressionist Plays by August Strindberg. New
York University Press. New York 1975
Другие работы по теме:
The Aj Story Essay Research Paper Livin
The Aj Story Essay, Research Paper Livin’ on Country The Alan Jackson Story Livin’ on Country is the complete story of Alan Jackson’s journey from small-town Georgia to big time success. Alan
Violence Of The America Essay Research Paper
On August 5, Jatrek Hewitt, 17, was shot and killed by a NJ police officer for allegedly trying to rob him. The police officer was never charged with anything even though it is illegal for NJ police officers to carry their weapons in New York.
Western Front Essay Research Paper On 3rd
Western Front Essay, Research Paper On 3rd August, 1914, German troops crossed the Belgian border in the narrow gap between Holland and France. The German First and Second Armies swept aside the small Belgian Army and by 20th August had occupied Brussels.
Emily Essay Research Paper Emily and I
Emily Essay, Research Paper Emily and I were in love. She lived in North Carolina and I lived in Ohio. It wasn’t an easy relationship. We communicated often. We met in August. She was diagnosed with cancer in her knee in December. It started in her knee, but had spread too much through out her body. She was dying.
My Cat Essay Research Paper What A
My Cat Essay, Research Paper What A Night It happened about a month ago on a warm Tuesday night in august. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but I was soon to find out differently. I was about to experience the most traumatic event of my life.
Life Essay Research Paper You have been
Life Essay, Research Paper You have been ready to move on for quite some time But maybe not so ready to let go Of all that you know (Your friends, your family, and all the sweet memories)
Constitution Essay Research Paper Atom BombingThe purpose
Constitution Essay, Research Paper Atom Bombing The purpose of my essay is to explain why the Atom Bomb was right. Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima in August 6,1945. Fat man was dropped on Nagasaki in August 9,1945. The effect of the bombing was tremendous; it caused death to over 112,000 people. The Bombing also ended the war as soon as possible.
Princess Diana Essay Research Paper One of
Princess Diana Essay, Research Paper One of the most loved and remembered women leaders of this century was Diana, Princess of Wales. After she came into the public’s life by marrying into the British Royal
Philosophy On Life Essay Research Paper My
Philosophy On Life. Essay, Research Paper My philosophy on life begins with the subject of death, which infact terrifies most people. Many people believe after you die you go to ‘heaven’ or ‘hell’, my opinion is similar but in a way different. I believe that there is certainly an afterlife but not as limited to those two fictional places.
Goals Essay Research Paper Jonathan drlasEssay 4This
Goals Essay, Research Paper Jonathan drlas Essay 4 This is my first work on this paper. My goal that I?am going to incorporate in my paper is a money goal. I want to save up 3,000 dollars before I leave for school. I leave on the 15 of august so there is a little over two months that I have to achieve this goal.
Narrative Essay Essay Research Paper August 2
Narrative Essay Essay, Research Paper August 2, 2000 Narrative essay Growing up in the streets of Los Angeles one will be caught into the temptations that are out there. One of the biggest temptations being caught into gangs. It is pretty hard not joining one especially when you see all your friends joining a certain crew or gang.
Princess Diana Essay Research Paper At the
Princess Diana Essay, Research Paper t the age of thirty-six Princess Diana’s life was brought to an end but the memories of her will never be forgotten. Diana was born on July 1, 1961 and died in a tragic accident on August 31, 1997. Her life consisted of love, heartbreak, family and sharing, continuously in the eye of the public.
Poem Belong Essay Research Paper Where I
Poem: Belong Essay, Research Paper Where I belong I am weak, I am strong I will fit where I belong don’t know where it is for now but it will come, if I allow tomorrow, I start a brand new day
Life And Chess Essay Research Paper To
Life And Chess Essay, Research Paper To run, to hide, to fight, Are the questions we face, day and night. To run, to hide, to fight, You have options, choose well, choose right.
Fences Essay Research Paper Fences In the
Fences Essay, Research Paper Fences In the play, Fences , by August Wilson, the character Troy exemplifies many traits, specifically, how troy is giving, honest, and responsible.
Quotes About Life Essay Research Paper Quotes
Quotes About Life Essay, Research Paper Quotes About Life “The answers to life s problems aren t at the bottom of a bottle: they re on TV!” Homer Simpson “It s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.”
Aliens Essay Research Paper Aliens
Aliens Essay, Research Paper Aliens What are aliens? There are illegal aliens. Their are UFO aliens. You have to ask yourself one question, do you think there could be intelligent life
Untitled Essay Research Paper A Biographical Report
Untitled Essay, Research Paper A Biographical Report on Thomas Fitzsimons Thomas Fitzsimons, or Fitzsimmons as his last name was sometimes spelled, was born during 1741 and died on August 26, 1811. Originally from Ireland,
Life Essay Research Paper LifeWhat is it
Life Essay, Research Paper Life What is it that makes life interesting? Better yet, does life even have a purpose? Right away most people would have answered yes to this question, but how sure are we if yes is the right answer. I too question myself if everyone on Earth or this whole universe has a meaning to live.
Snow In August Essay Research Paper English
Snow In August Essay, Research Paper English Project Snow In August Project The Rabbi and Michael Devlin have a very close relationship because Michael?s father died in World War II, as did Rabbi Hirsh?s family. When Frankie assaults Mister G, Michael is traumatized. Then Mister G falls into a coma and is lost to the ever-dwindling congregation in Rabbi Hirsh?s synagogue.
Secrets Of Life Essay Research Paper There
Secrets Of Life Essay, Research Paper There is one part of my life that no one knows about. This secret has caused me to act in ways I thought I wasn’t capable of doing. For the past five years, I
Farenheit 451 Essay Research Paper David Finch
Farenheit 451 Essay, Research Paper David Finch August 30, 1996 Civics Essay Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 forces us to envision a world that is so structured and censored fireman exist not to fight fires ,for all buildings are fireproof, but instead to burn books.
Annie Essay Research Paper In Edger Allen
Annie Essay, Research Paper In Edger Allen Poe?s poem ?For Annie? it illustrates Poe?s life as being an illness, which has finally come to an end. For example, on lines 29 & 30 Poe writes, ?With a fever called ?Living? That burned in my brain?. It?s odd how Poe reverses the ways of death and life. He feels that life is an illness and that death is a cure for the illness called life.
Ibsen And Strindberg 2
Ibsen And Strindberg – Hedda Gabler And Miss Julie Essay, Research Paper ?Compare and contrast the characters of Hedda Gabler and Miss Julie in the plays by Ibsen and Strindberg. Support your findings with comments on the writers attitudes to their characters.?
Miss Julie Essay Research Paper In Miss
Miss Julie Essay, Research Paper In Miss Julie, by August Strindberg wrote about the naturalistic view of human behavior. He symbolizes the behavior through animal imagery. The animal image Strindberg uses helps him exemplify his naturalistic view.
Napster Essay Research Paper Napster By Alexis
Napster Essay, Research Paper Napster By: Alexis Alexis Frank IST 333 August 9,2000 Napster In less than one year Napster has become the hot application that has some 20 million users running to their computer. Napster is currently fighting for its life against a court ordered shutdown, but it seems that people will find a way to share and downloud on line music no matter what.
Life Is Like Essay Research Paper Life
Life Is Like Essay, Research Paper Life is like a car. When it?s new, it usually works all right. As time drives by, it breaks down and needs repairs. Life is like a leaf. In its youth, it
Fishing Essay Research Paper My Fishing TripI
Fishing Essay, Research Paper My Fishing Trip I had the greatest experience of my life this year during August 7-10. I was spending my day just as usual taking it pretty easy. I was on the way to see my Grandma when I happened to run into one of my good friends so we stopped and got a little lunch. Just as soon as we sat down to eat I got a call from my old boss, and he was asking if I would like to go to Florida to go deep sea fishing.
August Wilson Poet Essay Research Paper
August Wilson August Wilson, born in Pittsburgh, PA. August Wilson began his writing career in grade school. A famous writer who never finish high school. His writing was strongly influenced by the lyric and music of the blues. August Wilson won two Pulitzer Prizes for his plays, which depict the black experience in America.
Effects Of Prozac Essay Research Paper Transformation
Effects Of Prozac Essay, Research Paper Transformation of Personality Peter D. Kramer, M.D. Psychology Today July / August 1993 8 Pages Peter D. Kramer, M.D. tells of his first experience with Prozac involving a woman named Tess. Tess was the eldest of 10 children, born to a passive mother and an alcoholic father.
Road Not Taken Essay Research Paper Robert
Road Not Taken Essay, Research Paper Robert Frost The Road Not Taken The poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost is about the choices that one makes in life. It tells about a man who comes to a fork in the road he traveling upon, he feel