Woyzeck by Georg Buchner
The narrative revolves around a lowly soldier named Franz Woyzeck, who struggles with mental instability and social oppression. Tormented by hallucinations and subjected to inhumane medical experiments, he grapples with jealousy and existential angst. His descent into madness is exacerbated by his fraught relationship with Marie, the mother of his child, who becomes involved with another man. Woyzeck's growing paranoia and alienation culminate in a tragic act of violence, reflecting the dehumanizing effects of poverty and the destructive power of societal forces on the individual psyche.
The 12436th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1879
- Nationality
- German
- Length
- Very Short
- Pages
- 50-70
- Words
- 6,500
- Original Language
- German
- Alternate Titles
- None
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 4 lists:
- 9th on The 50 Best Plays of All Time (TimeOut)
- 22nd on The Drama 100 - A Ranking of the Greatest Plays of All Time (Book)
- 41st on From Oedipus to The History Boys: Michael Billington's 101 greatest plays (The Guardian)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)