Spring's Awakening [Paperback]

Frank Wedekind (Author), Eric Bentley (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2000

Spring's Awakening is a tragi-comedy of teenage sex. Its fourteen-year-old heroine, Wendla, is killed by abortion pills. The young Moritz, terrorized by the world around him, and especially by his teachers, shoots himself. The ending seems likely to be the suicide of Moritz's friend, Melchior, but in a confrontation with a mysterious stranger (the famous Masked Man) he finally manages to shed his illusions and face the consequences.

Product Details

• Paperback: 126 pages
• Publisher: Applause Books; New edition edition (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557832455
• ISBN-13: 978-1557832450
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #253,375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ahead of its time, June 17, 2000

By 

"rainbowcrow" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spring's Awakening (Paperback)

So quickly does amnesia set in with age!

One generation is barely finished acting out the final throes of its rebellion before it turns to condemn the morals and values of the generation which follows. We see this today, of course, but it is nothing new, as Wedekind's play - written a century ago - brings to light with a startling clarity.

Abandoning any pretence of objectivity or realism, Wedekind's A Spring Awakening tells the timeless story of one generation's struggle to come to grips with the emotional and physical changes of adolescence, in the context of the earlier generation's social and sexual mores. As Wedekind makes very clear, it is not the natural impulses of youth that are corrupting, but rather the attempts of the adults to control these impulses by layering them with guilt.

Wedekind's exploration of these themes, while decidedly (and intentionally) one-sided, is a beautifully crafted piece of expressionist theatre. After seeing this play performed, I found myself thinking of it for days; after reading the script, further layers of both meaning and ambiguity came to the fore.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spring Awakening is an indepth look at teen life.Brilliant!, August 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Spring's Awakening (Paperback)

Recently observing an adapted performance of Spring Awakening I was stunned at the confronting and amazingly written script of Frank Wedekind. Although written over one hundred years ago the issues involved are still plaguing the children of todays generation. The play is interesting and easily related to by teenage children aswell as older audiences. I thoroughly enjoyed myself while watching the play along with all my companions

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars tragic results of inability of generations to communicate, April 21, 1999

By 

Stephen M. Picca MD (Massapequa, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spring's Awakening (Paperback)

Told in simple yet compelling language this play tells the story of adolescents attempting to grow up and understand the adult world with all its mysteries, especially sexuality. The parents and teachers they encounter however are too obsessed with being "respectable" citizens to be able to honestly deal with the thoughts and feelings of their own children. The result is tragedy for all involved.