Jeremiah: A Drama in Nine Scenes

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

39402

Title

Jeremiah: A Drama in Nine Scenes

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Stefan Zweig's dramatic retelling of the prophet Jeremiah's final days in Jerusalem. Set against the backdrop of the city's impending destruction, this play explores themes of faith, suffering, and divine purpose through nine intense scenes. It captures the tension between prophetic warning and societal denial, offering a profound meditation on the human spirit's endurance in the face of catastrophe.

Summary up to 500 words

Stefan Zweig's *Jeremiah: A Drama in Nine Scenes* dramatizes the final days of Jerusalem before its fall to the Babylonians. The play centers on the prophet Jeremiah, who is tormented by vivid, recurring visions of the city's destruction. Unlike the despair of the populace, Jeremiah perceives these visions not as madness but as divine warnings. His mother, Jochebed, recognizes his distress and urges him to find solace in marriage and family, but Jeremiah rejects these comforts, declaring that the coming war is a divine scourge and that the living will soon envy the dead. As the siege tightens, Jeremiah faces severe persecution. His father, Zebulon, and the high priest Pashur accuse him of treason and leading the youth astray. Pashur orders Jeremiah to be lowered into a pit to silence his prophecies. Despite this isolation and the threat of death, Jeremiah remains steadfast. He refuses to deny his message, even when faced with the prospect of eternal darkness, stating that he would rather be buried alive than compromise his truth. The drama shifts to King Zedekiah, who initially despairs in his blind state, feeling abandoned by God and his people. However, he eventually finds solace in Jeremiah's unwavering faith. Jeremiah convinces the king that their suffering is a sign of God's love and that they are being prepared for a spiritual transformation. As the city falls and the Chaldean army breaches the walls, the people prepare for exile. Rather than succumbing to defeat, they transform their departure into a solemn, religious procession. The play concludes with the exiles marching out of the ruined city. They do not leave in despair but with a renewed sense of purpose, singing of their eternal connection to Zion. Carrying their faith and memories, they accept their status as wanderers, finding strength in their shared suffering and an unwavering belief in a higher power. The final chorus declares that while they are eternally vanquished in the physical sense, their spirit remains free, marching onward through the ages toward their ultimate home in Jerusalem.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg39402.epub

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Categories

• Religion
• Drama