Reviews

Frühlings Erwachen by Frank Wedekind

symphonyofthenight's review against another edition

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4.0

Die Bewertung liegt irgendwo zwischen 4 und 5 Sternen.
Dieses Stück bringt das Aufeinanderstoßen von noch wahren, unverkommenen Gefühlen und Wissbegierde auf die Sozialenorm. Ich hasse die Formulierung "seiner Zeit voraus zu sein" in den meisten Zusammenhängen, und ich weiß auch nicht ob es das hier auf den Punkt bringt, denke aber dass der Autor die mentalen Struggles junger Menschen sehr gut widerspiegelt. Die Gedanken und Gefühle haben sich kaum verändert, vielleicht verschlimmert, aber der Umgang von der Schule oder Familien mit diesen hat sich in vielen Fällen verbessert. Es kommt einen so vor, als würde die Geschichte noch keine 130 Jahre alt sein.
Das Hörbuch auf Spotify ist eigentlich ganz gut, falls man keine Lust sich sein eigenes Theater im Kopf aufzubauen.
Und danke an Wavvy für die Empfehlung ❤ Wäre sonst vermutlich nie drauf gestoßen.

Außerdem: hat jetzt weniger mit dem Inhalt zu tun, aber dank des Hörbuches stelle ich mir Fliegentod so vor:
Johann, Vanitas no Carte

valschibalschi's review

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challenging tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

anne2024's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

pizzabrot's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 stars that turned into 4! It's like when a rather ordinary caterpillar transforms into this gorgeous butterfly...or let's say moth, because moths are beautiful too, but in a rather dark, complex and at first glace hidden and unappreciated way. And so multi-facetted!

After finishing, I was kind of underwhelmed by the book, thinking "Okay. I've read it, what now?" While still feeling somewhat similar, the Wikipedia summary actually helped me a lot in understanding and appreciating all the satiric nuances and socio-critical themes depected in the play (yup, not even ashamed to admit that) Such a short book, really - and yet it has so much to offer! It's essentially about the contradiction between the 19th century's bourgeois sex morality (and the taboo of speaking about it) and the pressure of young adults in their season of sexual awakening who are strongly in need of a proper education in this matter. Similarly, it's describing the more general intolerance and closing-up of adults when confronted with the youth's (justified) curious questions and mental instability (the latter, after all, resulting from this very societal negligence and academic pressure) Here I especially loved the discrepancy between the adolescents having to study an immense load of quixotical subjects (arguably completely remote from real life and any pratical appliances) and them barely knowing anything about procreation-related matters other than it not being the stork who "brings the children" (note Wendla's mother still trying to sell that story to her 14-year-old daughter though...sweet summer child, erm, mother!) The novel has much more to it than there seems to be at first sight (read, actually) and I appreciate that immensely. It's ironically tragic, but in the most humorous way and by the most hypobolical means possible. Sadly I feel that most of it goes rather unnoticed at first and that it needs some proper reflection to be able to find and cherish all the brilliant facettes and details the book has to offer. It's really about so much more than "just" sexual discovery!

The last scene reminded me a lof of the ending of "The secret History" - my probably favourite ending of all time, and therefore another reason I really enjoyed "Frühlings Erwachen" as well. I just wish that there hadn't been such a hard juxtaposition or cut between scenes. A more fluent transition by adding more scenes would have done wonders for a more immediate appreciation of the book.

Still, an iconic read and I can't thank the tv show "How to sell drugs online" enough for helping me discover it! And of course the Wikipedia page for assisting me in its understanding and appreciation :)

PS1: I think it's fascinating to think about the parallels between Ilse and the masked man and how they (not) succeeded in convincing the other person of thr beauty/necessity of living.

PS2: Something probably weird about me - from time to time I tend to read up on catastrophes such as terrorist attacks and mass shootings. It's a rather concerning rabbit hole, but I think most people are morbid one way or another, and it helps me in viewing the world as not the innocent and idealistic place I always pretend it to be (just INFP things) ANYWAY, I was reading a lot about the Parkland shooting over the last couple of days. And now I've just read in the Wiki that there were actually posters for the theatre group's performance of "Spring Awakening" (the book's english title" in the shot-up class rooms. Coincidences are so weird sometimes.

erikleest's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

ahead of it’s time in numerous ways, although i felt as if a lot of the story was lacking. perhaps many of these plot holes wouldn’t be as noticeable or even explained when performed on stage. i suppose this is a play that isn’t meant to be read but demands to be seen in an auditorium.

sudeee's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.75

alprnt's review against another edition

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2.0

2.0

booksinmydrawer's review

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dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

cherryredmarlene's review against another edition

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

marlimoon's review

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dark emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0