Georg Buchner's Dantons Tod as a possible source for Peter Weiss's Marat/ Sade

Abstract

E. M. Fleissner writes that "revolt is central to the drama . . ." and in Georg Buchner's Dantons Tod and Peter Weiss's Die Verfolgung und Ermordung Jean Paul Marats dargestellt durch die Schauspielgruppe des Hospizes zu Charenton unter Anleitung des Herrn de Sade revolt becomes revolution. [1] Specifically the French Revolution serves as both plays' backdrop, and in them Buchner and Weiss recount two of the Revolution's most terrifying events, the execution of Danton and the murder of Marat, respectively. These plays, however, are not mere dramatizations of history because into each the author injects his own opinions and ideas so that they become personal statements, not only about revolution, but about life in general. This thesis is a discussion of similarities in origin, idea and technique of both dramas; thus it is an attempt to establish Dantons Tod as a possible source for Marat/Sade. [2] Although Weiss himself, to the best of this writer's knowledge, has never acknowledged an indebtedness to Buchner, an observant reader cannot fail to notice in Marat/Sade many echoes of Buchner's thought and also many dramatic techniques which Buchner devised and utilized a century ago. Critical circles on both sides of the Atlantic have recognized the similarity and relationship between the two. . . . To investigate this relationship my thesis will first consider both Weiss's and Buchner's backgrounds and note what must surely be an unusual series of coincidences. Next, it will analyze in detail the exact manner of dramatic development each author uses. With this background material in mind, it will next turn to the plays themselves and consider thematic and technical similarities. Initially, there is the overriding problem of Buchner's and Weiss's opinion towards revolution. Each author had different beliefs, and the ideas presented in these dramas must be considered. Since both plays are essentially stage works, some attention must be given to their theatrical aspects, and in the correspondence here one finds much that is intriguing. Finally, this thesis will scrutinize the major characters' philosophies to see if any relationships are therein revealed. [From Introduction]