King Malwind
From Valwiki
| Author: | Friedrich Strauss. |
| Subtitle: | Life as an Affirmative Tragedy. |
| Language: | Common. |
| Document Type: | Play. |
| Genre: | Tragedy. |
King Malwind is a tragedy by Friedrich Strauss. The play is considered one of his greatest works. The play is based on the legend of the ancient King Malwind of Valikorlia.
The play was often modified by theatre practitioners who disliked its nihilistic flavor but many scholars and viewers of the theatre have come to be regarded as one of Strauss' supreme achievements. The tragedy is particularly noted for its probing observations on the nature of human suffering and kinship.
Characters
- King Uther Malwind is ruler of Valikorlia. He is a patriarchal figure whose misjudgment of his daughters brings about his downfall.
- Princess Edith Malwind is Malwind's treacherous eldest daughter and wife to the Duke of the Northern Kingdom.
- Princess Rose Malwind is Malwind's treacherous second daughter, and wife to the Duke of the Western Kingdom.
- Princess Verita Malwind is Malwind's youngest daughter and personifies truth. At the beginning of the play, she has yet to marry and has two suitors: the Prince of Dalmar and the Duke of the Southern Kingdom.
- The Duke of the Northern Kingdom is Edith's husband. Edith scorns him for his "milky gentleness". He turns against his wife later in the play.
- King Uther Malwind, Ruler of Valikorlia
- Princess Edith Malwind, eldest daughter of Uther
- Princess Rose Malwind, second daughter of Uther
- Princess Verita Malwind, youngest daughter of Uther
- Duke of the Northern Kingdom, husband to Edith
- Duke of the Eastern Kingdom, husband to Rose
- King of Taron
- Duke of Valikorlia
- Edgar, son of the King of Taron
- Edmund, bastard son of the King of Taron
- Oswald , steward to Edith
- Fool
- King of Frost, suitor to Verita
- Emperor of Athedia, suitor to Vertita
- Curan, a courtier
- Old man, tenant of Taron
A Doctor, an Officer employed by Edmund, a Gentleman attending on Verita, a Herald, Servants to the Eastern Kingdom. Knights of Malwind's Train, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants
Synopsis
Malwind, who is old, wants to retire from power. He decides to divide his realm among his three daughters, and offers the largest share to the one who loves him best. Edith and Rose both proclaim in fulsome terms that they love him more than anything in the world, which pleases him. Verita speaks temperately and honestly, which annoys him. In his anger he disinherits her, and divides the kingdom between the other two. The Duke of Valikorlia objects to this unfair treatment, but Malwind is further enraged by such contradiction, and banishes him from the country. Verita's two suitors enter. Learning that she is disinherited, the Emperor of Athedia withdraws his suit, but the King of Frost is impressed by her honesty and marries her anyway.
Malwind announces he will live alternately with Edith and Rose, and their husbands, the Dukes of Northern and Eastern Kingdoms. He reserves to himself a retinue of one hundred knights, to be supported by his daughters. Edith and Rose speak privately, agreeing that Malwind is old and foolish.
Edmund resents his bastard status, and plots to supplant his legitimate older brother Edgar. He tricks their father the King of Empyria with a forged letter, making him think Edgar plans to usurp the estate.
The Duke of Valikorlia returns from exile in disguise, and Malwind hires "Caius" as a servant.
Malwind discovers that now that Edith has power, she no longer respects him. She orders him to behave better and reduce his retinue. Enraged, Malwind departs for Rose's home. The Fool mocks Malwind's misfortune.
Edmund fakes an attack by Edgar, and the King of Frost is completely taken in. He disinherits Edgar and proclaims him outlaw.
"Caius" meets Oswald at the King of Frost's home, quarrels with him, and is put in the stocks by Rose and her husband. When Malwind arrives, he objects, but Rose takes the same line as Edith. Malwind is enraged but impotent. Edith arrives and echoes Rose. Malwind yields completely to his rage. He rushes out into a storm to rant against his ungrateful daughters, accompanied by the mocking Fool. "Caius" later follows to protect him. The King of Taron protests Malwind's mistreatment.
Wandering on the heath after the storm, Malwind meets Edgar, in the guise of a madman. Edgar babbles madly while Malwind denounces his daughters. The King of Taron leads them all to shelter.
Edmund betrays the King of Taron to the Eastern Kingdom, Rose, and Edith. He shows a letter from his father to the King of Frost asking for help against them; and in fact a Frostian army has been seen in Valikorlia. The King of Taron is arrested, and the King of the Eastern Kingdom gouges out his eyes. But one of the Eastern King's servants is so outraged by this that he attacks and fatally wounds him. Rose kills the mutinous servant, and tells the ex-King of Taron that Edmund tricked him; then she turns him out to wander the heath too.
Edgar in his madman's guise meets the blinded ex-King on the heath. The ex-king begs "the drifter" to lead him to a cliff, so that he may jump to his death.
Edmund meets Edith, She finds him more attractive than her honest husband, whom she regards as "milk-livered". The Northern King is disgusted by the sisters' treatment of Malwind, and the mutilation of the ex-King, and denounces Edith.
"Caius" leads Malwind to the Frostian army, which is accompanied by Verita. But Malwind is half-mad, and terribly embarassed by his earlier follies. The North King leads the Valikorlian army to meet the Frostians.
Rose too is attracted to Edmund, and the two sisters become jealous. She sends Oswald with letters to Edmund, and also tells Oswald to kill the ex-King if he sees him.
Edgar pretends to lead the ex-King to a cliff, then changes his voice and tells the ex-King he has miraculously survived a great fall. They meet Malwind, who is now a completely mad misanthrope. Malwind rants that the whole world is corrupt and runs off.
Oswald tries to kill the ex-King, but is slain by Edgar. In Oswald's pocket, Edgar finds a letter from Edith to Edmund suggesting the murder of the North King.
"Caius" and Verita take charge of Malwind, whose madness largely passes.
Rose, Edith, the North King, and Edmund meet with their forces. The North King insists that they fight the Frostian invaders, but not harm Malwind or Verita. The two sisters lust for Edmund, who has made promises to both. He considers the dilemma, and plots the deaths of the North King, Malwind, and Verita. Edgar gives the North King Edith's letter.
The armies meet in battle, the Valikorlian defeat the Frostian, and Malwind and Verita are captured. Edmund sends them off with secret orders for execution.
The victorious Valikorlian leaders meet, and Rose now declares she will marry Edmund. But the North King exposes the intrigues of Edmund and Edith, and proclaims Edmund a traitor. Rose collapses; Edith has poisoned her. Edmund defies the North King, who calls for a trial by combat. Edgar appears to fight Edmund, and defeats him. The North King shows Edith's letter to her; she flees in shame and rage. Edgar reveals himself.
Offstage, Edith stabs herself, and confesses to poisoning Rose. Edmund, dying, reveals his order to kill Malwind and Verita. But it is too late: Verita is dead, though Malwind slew the killer. Malwind recognizes "Caius". The North King urges Malwind to resume his throne, but he is too far gone in grief and hardship. He collapses and dies.
