Der König Candaules: Drama in drei Akten

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

38281

Title

Der König Candaules: Drama in drei Akten

Language

de

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this 1905 German adaptation of Gide's classic, King Candaules is haunted by a ring that renders its wearer invisible. When his wife Nyssia is revealed to have slept with the invisible Gyges, Candaules orders Gyges' death. However, Gyges kills the King instead, seizing the crown and revealing himself to the court, transforming a tale of vanity into a profound exploration of power, truth, and the nature of art.

Summary up to 500 words

André Gide's *The King Candaules* is a profound drama exploring the tension between reality and illusion, framed by a preface on the evolution of theater. The narrative centers on King Candaules, a vain monarch who possesses a magical ring granting invisibility to its wearer. Driven by an insatiable need to validate his own beauty and power, Candaules orders his invisible friend, Philebos, to show him his wife, Nyssia, to a group of foreign guests. However, the guests are actually Gyges, a humble fisherman whom Candaules has secretly accused of adultery with Nyssia. Unable to see Gyges due to the ring's power, Candaules orders his execution. In a twist of fate, Gyges kills the King, reveals his true identity, and assumes the throne. The play contrasts the ancient Greek ideal of natural character with modern hypocrisy. Candaules represents a flawed ruler whose vanity blinds him to the truth; he believes his glory exists only when witnessed by others, yet he cannot see the reality of his wife's infidelity. Gyges, initially a victim of the King's paranoia, transforms into a new ruler who accepts his role while the invisible truth of the past remains a haunting presence. The story concludes with Gyges accepting his new role as king, while the invisible truth of the past remains a haunting presence. Gide uses the ring as a metaphor for the artist's need for constraint and the audience's desire for truth. The drama suggests that art, like the ring, requires artificial constraints to elevate the human spirit, rather than relying on the unfiltered chaos of nature. The play critiques the modern tendency toward hypocrisy, where societal norms mask true passions, contrasting this with the ancient belief that one should simply be what one is. Through the interplay of the invisible Gyges and the visible but blind Candaules, Gide illustrates how the pursuit of absolute truth can lead to destruction, while the acceptance of illusion and constraint allows for the creation of meaningful art and society.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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2026-07-08 19:01 UTC

Categories

• Classics
• Drama