Die Räuber
"Die Räuber" (1781) is Schiller's first play, a classic example of the Sturm und Drang movement. The play depicts the tragic conflict between two brothers, Karl and Franz Moor, and criticizes corrupt society and tyranny.
The old Count Maximilian von Moor has two sons with completely opposite characters:
- Karl Moor — the older son, a noble, idealistic, charismatic and impulsive student in Leipzig. He loves Amalia and wants to improve.
- Franz Moor — the younger son, ugly, spiteful, coldly calculating and ambitious. He hates his brother because he is his father's favorite and heir.
Franz forges a letter to convince his father that Karl is a scoundrel, a seducer and a criminal. The father is furious at Karl's inheritance. Karl, in despair after receiving the forged letter, agrees to become the leader of a bandit gang in the Bohemian forests. He wants to fight injustice and become a "Robin Hood" - the avenger of the oppressed.
Meanwhile, Franz takes power in the castle: he imprisons his father in a hungry tower, spreads lies about Karl's death and tries to win Amalia.
Karl's gang commits a series of crimes (including arson), which breaks him morally. He realizes that his idealism has led to chaos and innocent victims. He returns to the castle in disguise, frees his father (who dies of shock when he learns the truth about his son), and confronts Franz, who commits suicide out of fear.
In the end, Amalia begs Karl to kill her because she cannot live without him, and he is bound by the oath of the gang. Karl kills Amalia, then surrenders to justice to atone for his sins.
One copy is available
