Maria Magdalena: Analysis of Major Characters
"Maria Magdalena: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the emotional complexities and tragic fates of key characters in a narrative centered around love, betrayal, and familial struggle. The story features Clara, a young woman who embodies the consequences of unreciprocated love and societal pressures, ultimately leading her to a heartbreaking decision to end her life after being abandoned by her lover, Leonard. Leonard himself is depicted as a self-serving character who uses Clara's situation to secure a marriage with a wealthier suitor, illustrating themes of manipulation and selfishness.
Another significant character is the secretary, who harbors feelings for Clara and ultimately meets a tragic end in a duel with Leonard, highlighting themes of honor and the impact of romantic rivalry. Clara's brother, Karl, faces unjust accusations that tarnish his reputation and serve as a catalyst for the events that unfold, while their father, Anthony, represents a figure of confusion and helplessness amid familial tragedy. Lastly, Clara's mother, a devout woman, is portrayed as a victim of the emotional turmoil that envelops her family, emphasizing the far-reaching effects of the characters' struggles. This analysis invites readers to reflect on the intertwining fates of these individuals within a context of societal judgment and personal despair.
Maria Magdalena: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Friedrich Hebbel
First published: 1844 (English translation, 1935)
Genre: Play
Locale: Germany
Plot: Domestic realism
Time: Nineteenth century
Clara, a young girl who, to prove her love, gives herself physically to the man she loves. She is crushed when he does not want to marry her and seizes as his excuse the fact that Clara's brother has been accused of theft. Feeling that her pregnancy and its disgrace may drive her father to suicide, Clara thinks of killing herself. The arrival of an old suitor who still wants to marry her only puts off the action for a time. Clara drowns herself in the household well.
Leonard, Clara's lover and fiancé. He is a selfish, calculating young man. As a means of getting a job, he courts the mayor's daughter. Finding that the girl loves him, he throws over Clara, despite her pregnancy, and marries his new love. Leonard is killed in a duel by the secretary, a suitor who loves Clara.
The secretary, a childhood sweetheart of Clara. He wants to marry her, though she is pregnant by Leonard. He vows to fight a duel with Leonard, does so, and is fatally wounded.
Karl, Clara's brother. Because of his unsavory reputation, he is accused of theft and thus gives Leonard an excuse to break off with Clara. Later, Karl is cleared of any guilt.
Anthony, Clara's father. He is a simpleminded cabinetmaker who does not understand what happens to his family. The secretary, dying, accuses Anthony of Clara's death because of his pride and weakness. Anthony, unable to comprehend the mysteries of life, fails to see how he can be at all responsible for his daughter's suicide.
Anthony's wife, Clara's mother. She is a respectable, God-fearing woman who wishes only the best for her family. The accusations leveled against her son are enough of a shock to kill her.