Hands Around [Reigen]: A Cycle of Ten Dialogues

Download or read book Hands Around [Reigen]: A Cycle of Ten Dialogues written by Arthur Schnitzler and published by DigiCat. This book was released on 2022-06-02 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hands Around is a famous play with provocative sexual themes. It examines its time's sexual morality and class ideology through consecutive interactions between two characters before or after a sexual encounter. The characters include a prostitute, a soldier, A parlor maid, a young gentleman, a young wife, a husband, a Miss, a poet, an actress, and a count. By picking characters from all levels of society, the play offers social commentary on how sexual interaction breaks class boundaries. The play follows the suppression and flooding of sexuality in a psychologically exciting way. In addition, it paints a unique picture of sexual intercourse, as if Schnitzler is saying that love is unreliable. He wants to tell the readers that infidelity isn't something that only streetwalkers and soldiers participate in, but the nobility, the wealthy, and the world's artists also partake in it. It is a truly exceptional and unforgettable play that evoked strong reactions from people when it was first published.