SpringsAwakening
Inthe book called Women, the Family and Freedom edited by Susan G.Belland Karen. M. Offenin the period between 1880 and 1950 the writersenormously advocate for the rights concerning women in the society.The writers embark a wholesome approach to their indubitable campaignfor women rights. Materialism and Nationalism concerning women iswell addressed and articulated in this piece of work. Education beinga main issue in the societal setting within the nation is also acatered for in this important book. In reference to education thewriters show the idea of Spring Awakening. This paper is clearlyindicative of how Frank Wedekind’s work is concerned witheducation.
SpringAwakening is set at the approach of twentieth century. At this timeadvocates for large institution dealing with management of child careand entire homes for girls irrespective of their societal class wereenjoying an advanced and enhanced success .At this time there wasentire advocacy for a wholesome education for the women in thesociety. Sex education was among many other extreme edges where thatwere achieved by the advocates. Frank Wedekind wrote a play which wasfirst published in 1891 called which consequentlybecame his most famous.
Inthe play he tries to introduce a new concept of discussion of sex inthe society which was at this time reluctant to the idea .The playclearly shows a society which was very strict in control freedom andEducation as a whole .The play was a clearly a good platform for social criticism. The play elicited a controversy in Germany and theentire Europe concerning sex education as a part of the wholesomeeducation. Consequently the play was in controversy with the Nazisidea (Bell, & Offen, 1983).
Inthe plot of the play Frank Wedekind uses various character to expressmay theories about education. School teachers further accordingexpound on and enhance the theories of Locke and Rousseau who displaychildren as being blank and they should be taught everything byexternal authorities. Mrs. Gabor puts her whole trust on Melchior andis well determined to let him find his way in a world that isunpredictable. She indicates her readiness to let him become exposedto ideas that are not even of his caliber of readiness .Melchior onthe other hand becomes a victim of his own desires .His behaviorconsequently leads him into disrespecting the authorities as well asraping the Wendla.
Wedekinduses another character Moritz, who is influenced by his teacher for along time. Moritz does not trust his own knowledge and instincts andthis leads him to use references. He uses the encyclopedias and alsorefers to other students he thinks are more intelligent than him toseek the much needed answers. Comparing Melchior and Moritz clearlyshows an absolute difference between their actions and also theresults of their lives (Stone,2011).Using the two Wedekind indicates an indubitable difference betweenthe educated and nurtured and those who grow up without any guidanceand instruction in the society.
SpringsAwakening clearly indicates a system of education that is developedto effectively diminish the number of failures in the society. Thesystem is also designed to encourage a healthy competition among thestudents. According to the education system students are classifiedaccording to their role towards the sustainability of the society.Concurrently the play works by far to promote a respect for theauthority and a standard societal morality.
Theplay indicates education as giving powers to teachers to instillwisdom the learners .The wisdom goes a long way into guiding as wellas becoming a point of reference to the future lives of the learners.the play also widely explores other themes in the society mostlyconcerning the schooling teenagers irrespective of their socialclass. It addresses the sexual curiosity among the adolescents whodiscover their body physiology during the learning process.
Theissues concerning sexuality are treated in such with a harshness andsuppression by parents and school teachers in the same way. With sucha treatment the youngsters tend to behave in a manic mannerdisconnecting from the society since they are too afraid to expresstheir feelings (Sater & Sheik, 2007). Wedekind uses his wordswith the respective humanity and sympathy toward the schoolingyouths.
Thefirst performance of the play in the 1891 failed a large group ofaudience. This is because at the time the society was not educatedand thus uncivilized. In a consequent attempt of performance whichtook place in the United States of America the New York CityCommissioner of Licenses tried to mask it from the public claimingthat the play contained obscene material. The acceptance and rise tofame of the play is clearly indicative of a change in the audiences.The changes in the civilization associated with education
Bibliography
Bell,S. G., & Offen, K. M. (1983). 1880-1950.Stanford, Calif: Stanford Univ. Press.
Frank.W(2010)Frank Wedekind Spring Awakening (2010) NHB, Nick Hern Bookshttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Spring-Awakening-NHB-Drama-Classics/dp/1848420560/280-7566473-9546014?ie=UTF8&ref_=lh_ni_t
Stone,K.M., 2011. SpringAwakening and Anti-Conformity: An Ideological Criticism(Doctoral dissertation, California Polytechnic State University, SanLuis Obispo).
SATER,S., & SHEIK, D. (2007). Springawakening a new musical.New York, Theatre Communications Group.http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=478369.