Heldenplatz Play in English

Overview

• Title: Heldenplatz

• Authors: Thomas Bernhard and Gitta Honegger

• Source: Conjunctions, 1999, No. 33, Crossing Over: THE MILLENNIAL ISSUE (1999), pp. 307-408

• Published by: Conjunctions

• JSTOR Stable URL: Link

Key Information

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Characters and Setting

Main Characters:

• Robert Schuster: Professor and brother of the deceased Josef Schuster

• Anna and Olga: Daughters of Professor Schuster

• Lukas: Son of Professor Schuster

• Hedwig (Frau Professor): Wife of the deceased professor

• Professor Liebig: Colleague of Professor Schuster

• Herr Landauer: An admirer

• Frau Zittel: Housekeeper of the deceased

• Herta: Maid

Settings:

• Scene Locations:

  • Apartment of Professor Schuster near Heldenplatz

  • Volksgarten (People's Garden) between Heldenplatz and Burgtheater

• Timeframe: March 1988, following a funeral.

Plot and Themes

Scene Summaries:

Scene One:

• Herta is cleaning shoes in the professor's dressing room, discussing the deceased's belongings and past life.

• The conversation highlights the professor's struggles, family dynamics, and his complicated existence with the pressures of life in Vienna.

• There is tension regarding the aging mother who needs care, and the theme of aging and family obligation comes into focus.

Scene Two:

• Set in Volksgarten, the daughters (Anna and Olga) reflect on their father's funeral, revealing family tensions and disagreements about moving back to Oxford.

• The discussion reveals the political backdrop of Austria and the persistent societal hatreds present in the setting.

Scene Three:

• Characters gather for a dinner where they discuss the deceased professor’s legacy and views on the city.

• Critical of the state of Vienna and Austrian identity, discussions touch on perceived failures of Austrian society.

Critical Analysis

• Cultural Reflection: The piece acts as a political and cultural critique of Austrian life and the historical burden of its past, particularly relating to the Jewish experience.

• Themes of Isolation and Identity: The discussions between characters reveal a feeling of entrapment within personal relationships and broader societal constructs.

• Use of Language: Bernhard's work is noted for its intricate wordplay and philosophical musings, reflective of early 20th-century European thought.

• Personal vs. Political: The personal heartbreak of the characters is echoed in the social and political commentary on Austria’s past.

Translator's Postscript

• Context of Writing: Written for the anniversary of Austria's annexation by Hitler.

• Theatre Reception: The initial responses to the play included protests and political controversy, signifying its powerful and contentious dialogue on national identity.

• Subtext and Nuance: Bernhard's layers within the play provide insight into Austrian-Jewish duality, critiquing in terms of both victimhood and complicity.