In a world of luxury and decadence, a beautiful young woman struggles to find her own unique self in a society dominated by men. Lulu wants nothing more than to be a dancer, to find joy in her own activities, to be independent. Men appear in her life and try to own her, possess her, control her--but for each and every one of these husbands, their attempts end in death. Lulu is a symbol of female power and sexuality, the “Earth-Spirit” who cannot be tamed and inspires destruction around her. Censored in its original 1898 production, Erdgeist is Frank Wedekind’s mediation on the nature of female sexuality and a cautionary tale for any man wishing to control a woman and her identity.
Erdgeist guide sections
