8 Emily Gertrude Moore 



apparent. The difference in the art of the two authors is well 

 illustrated by the contrast between the dramas in question. One 

 feels that Ibsen wrote Kaiser und Galilder for the sake of bring- 

 ing out a particular idea ; and that his characters are merely means 

 to that end. But Hauptmann thinks in terms of living beings. 

 His first concern is to put before us men and women who are true 

 to life, and if we would understand their significance we must 

 first know them. 



The basis of Kaiser Karls Geisel is given in the following 

 paragraph quoted by Hauptmann from Le sei giornate of the 

 sixteenth century: "It is written that King Charles, whom the 

 French calling the Great compare to Pompey and Alexander, 

 during his reign fell deeply in love with a young girl, who, as it 

 seemed to him exceeded in beauty every other maiden of the 

 kingdom of France during those days. The king was fired with 

 such love for her and had his mind so corrupted by her tender and 

 wicked caresses, that notwithstanding the harm that would come 

 to his fame and honor for such a reason, and having given up 

 the thoughts of governing his kingdom. ..." 



Certainly Hauptmann entered upon no light task when he 

 undertook to treat naturalistically the heroic and half-legendary 

 figure of Charlemagne. Yet in the very opening of the first act 

 he brings him before us, vitalized, real, convincing. We recog- 

 nize at once all the traits made traditional by history. He puts 

 in his spare moments memorizing the list of the " eleven free 

 arts," and writing it — with difficulty — upon a waxed tablet. He 

 is a keen administrator and a mighty warrior. But there is some- 

 thing more. 



He is possessed by a strange and restless spirit. In spite of his 

 long and brilliant career, there is something in his life that fails 

 to satisfy him. He says with " selbst-ironie " : " Ich bin ein 

 Franke! Wer bestreitet's ? — Frei ! Wer leugnet's? ein Gefang- 

 ener meiner Pflicht ! " 



The stern and simple code of duty that he has followed all his 

 life seems inadequate to him now. The tasks that seemed all- 

 important have grown trivial. With Solomon he is ready to say : 



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