Facing Death by August Strindberg

 

August Strindberg

Synopsis

Facing Death, a one-act play by August Strindberg, tells the poignant (emotional/touching) story of Monsieur Durand, a widowed former railroad worker grappling (tackling) with financial ruin. Burdened with the responsibility of raising his three daughters—Adèle, Annette, and Thérèse—Durand struggles to secure their futures. Despite his efforts, including taking in lodgers to make ends meet, his attempts are met with ridicule and contempt. Yet, Durand devises a desperate plan to ensure his daughters’ financial security, even if it costs him his own life. This masterpiece of European dramatic naturalism portrays the depth of a father's love and his ultimate sacrifice for his children.

Setting

Through the open door, a room with a long dining table is visible, offering a view of the cypress trees in the churchyard, Lake Geneva, the Savoy Alps, and the French resort town of Evian. To the left is the kitchen entrance.

Themes of the Play

• Toxic relationships
• Confidentiality
• Tragedy and sorrow
• Hardship
• Confession
• Consciousness
• Lack of gratitude

Characters

• Monsieur Durand: The aging, embittered patriarch, haunted by past regrets and financial woes. 
• Adèle: The eldest daughter, practical and hardworking, trying to hold the family together. 
• Thérèse: The youngest daughter, impulsive and flirtatious.
• Annette: The middle daughter, more reserved and observant.
• Antonio: An Italian lieutenant, a paying guest at the pension. A lieutenant in the Italian cavalry (support) stationed in French Switzerland in the 1880s.
• Pierre: An errand boy.

Elements of the Plot

The play, Facing Death by August Strindberg, is a one-act drama that unfolds in a naturalistic style. It chronicles the struggles of Monsieur Durand, a retired railway worker and widower, who is in financial ruin and strives to secure a better future for his three daughters despite their scorn for him.

• Exposition: After the death of his wife, Monsieur Durand faces economic hardships with his daughters, and the family struggles to sustain their business.
• Rising Action: A heated argument ensues as Durand’s daughters blame him for their misfortunes.
• Climax: In a moment of sacrifice, Durand resolves to take his own life, ensuring his daughters benefit from his life and fire insurance policies.
• Falling Action: Durand instructs his eldest daughter, Adèle, to care for her sisters and convey his wishes.
• Resolution: Durand carries out his plan, consuming poison and succumbing (expiring) to fire, ultimately sacrificing himself for his daughters' future.

SUMMARY:

"Facing Death" by August Strindberg is a searing (intense) one-act play that explores the depths of human despair, family dysfunction, and the harsh effects of past secrets. Set in a dilapidated (ruined) Swiss pension (inn/hostel), the play centers around Monsieur Durand, a former railroad employee whose life has spiraled into financial ruin.

The play opens with the Durand family facing imminent bankruptcy. Their pension (inn) is struggling, and they are deeply in debt. Monsieur Durand, burdened by past mistakes and plagued by the manipulative spirit of his deceased wife, is increasingly withdrawn and bitter. His daughters, Adèle, Thérèse, and Annette, each grapple (tackle) with their own anxieties, reflecting the family's collective descent into despair.

The arrival of Lieutenant Antonio, a paying guest, briefly offers a glimmer (sparkle) of hope. However, the fragile peace is shattered by a series of events. Thérèse's flirtatious behavior with Antonio provokes a violent outburst from Durand, revealing a long-buried secret: he is not Swiss-born, as he has always claimed. This revelation further erodes the already fractured family bonds.

As the financial crisis deepens, Durand, driven by despair and a desire to protect his daughters from further hardship, makes a devastating decision. He sets fire to the pension (inn), intending to collect on the fire insurance. This act, born from desperation, underscores the play's exploration of the destructive consequences of financial ruin and the lengths to which individuals may go to survive.

Before succumbing (dying) to the effects of poison, Durand confesses a lifetime of secrets: his wife's deceit, his own financial mismanagement, and the years he spent silently enduring her manipulations. He reveals that his wife, driven by a need for control, had instilled (taught) in their daughters a deep-seated resentment (hatred) towards him.

The play concludes on a chilling revelation: Durand has intentionally set the fire, using the insurance money as a final act of provision for his daughters. He urges Adèle to protect her sisters, to find them suitable husbands, and to ensure their future. As the fire engulfs the house, Durand dies, leaving behind a legacy of secrets, regrets, and the enduring impact of family dysfunction.

Character Analyses

• Monsieur Durand:
• A Tragic Figure: Durand is a complex and tragic character, burdened by a lifetime of secrets and the weight of his past mistakes. He is a victim of his own naivety and his wife's manipulative nature.
• Haunted by the Past: The specter of his wife's deceit and the constant reminders of her presence in the household weigh heavily on him.
• A Man of Honor (in his own way): Despite his flaws, Durand demonstrates a deep, although flawed (imperfect), sense of honor. He prioritizes his daughters' well-being, even in his final act of desperation.
• A Broken Man: Years of financial hardship, family conflict, and the constant weight of his wife's accusations have taken their toll on him. He is a broken man seeking redemption, even if it means self-destruction.
• Adèle:
• The Pragmatic (sensible) One: Adèle is the most practical and responsible of the daughters. She shoulders the burden of household chores and attempts to maintain a semblance (impression) of order amidst the chaos.
• Caught Between Loyalty and Resentment: Adèle struggles to reconcile her love for her father with her resentment towards him and her mother.
• A Symbol of Resilience (toughness): Despite the overwhelming circumstances, Adèle emerges as a potential source of strength and resilience for her sisters.
• Thérèse:
• Impulsive (thoughtless) and Flirtatious: Thérèse is the most impulsive and emotionally volatile (unstable) of the daughters. Her flirtations with Antonio escalate tensions and contribute to the family's downfall.
• Weak and Vulnerable: Thérèse is easily influenced and lacks the maturity to navigate the complexities of her relationships.
• A Product of Her Environment: Thérèse's behavior reflects the dysfunctional family dynamics and the lack of strong female role models in her life.
• Annette:
• The Observer: Annette is the most reserved and observant of the daughters. She witnesses the family's decline with a mixture of sadness and detachment.
• A Symbol of Hope: While initially passive, Annette shows potential for growth and independence. Her desire to become a teacher suggests a desire for self-improvement and a brighter future.
• The Absent Mother:
• A Haunting (memorable) Presence: Although absent, the mother remains a powerful force in the play. Her manipulative spirit continues to influence the family dynamics and poison their relationships.
• A Symbol of Deceit and Manipulation: The mother's actions highlight the destructive power of deceit and the long-lasting impact of parental dysfunction on children.

Key Themes:

• Financial Ruin: The play starkly portrays the devastating impact of financial hardship on a family. It explores the psychological and emotional toll of poverty and the desperation it can breed.
• Family Dysfunction: The play delves deep into the complexities of family relationships, exploring themes of resentment, deceit, and the corrosive effects of suppressed emotions.
• The Burden of the Past: The characters are haunted by past mistakes, family secrets, and the lingering influence of deceased loved ones.
• The Search for Redemption (recovery): Durand's final act, though destructive, can be interpreted as a desperate attempt to find redemption and ensure his daughters' future.
• The Power of Illusion: The play explores the illusion of stability and the fragility of family bonds.

Conclusion:

"Facing Death" is a powerful and unsettling exploration of human despair and the destructive forces within families. Strindberg's masterful characterization and his unflinching portrayal of human weaknesses make this play a compelling and enduring work of dramatic literature.

EXTENSIVE READING

Summary

Facing Death is a poignant (heart-breaking) drama illustrating a father’s unyielding love and sacrifices for his children amidst poverty and estrangement (disaffection). Monsieur Durand, a former railroad worker, rents rooms to tourists in an attempt to support his daughters—Adèle, Annette, and Thérèse—but struggles to make ends meet. Despite his efforts, his daughters harbor resentment, blaming him for their mother’s death and their plight.

In his final act of devotion, Durand formulates a grim plan: to take his life and enable his daughters to inherit the insurance money. His sacrifices are highlighted throughout the play, from enduring hunger to prioritizing his daughters’ comfort. After quarreling with a lodger, Antonio, who sought to help their financial situation, Durand faces intensified accusations and contempt from his daughters.

In the climax, Durand reveals his decision to Adèle, asking her to ensure the family’s wellbeing. He drinks poison and sets a fire, fulfilling his plan to relieve his daughters of financial struggles. In his death, Durand’s ultimate act of love emphasizes the theme of sacrifice amidst unappreciated devotion.

Plot:

The play opens with the Durand family facing imminent financial collapse. Their pension is struggling, and they are deeply in debt. Monsieur Durand, burdened by past mistakes and plagued by his wife's manipulative spirit, is increasingly withdrawn and bitter.

Tensions escalate as Thérèse flirts with Antonio, leading to a heated confrontation between Durand and the young lieutenant. This culminates in Antonio's departure and Durand's violent outburst, revealing a long-buried secret: he is not Swiss-born, as he has always claimed.

As the family descends into chaos and despair, Durand reveals further truths: his wife's deceit, his own financial mismanagement, and his enduring love for his daughters despite their constant criticism.

In a final, dramatic turn, Durand reveals that he has intentionally set fire to the pension, intending to collect on the fire insurance. He confesses his past and urges Adèle to protect her sisters and ensure their future. As the fire engulfs the house, Durand succumbs to the poison he has consumed.

In-Depth Analysis:

Facing Death presents the struggles of the Durand family, centering on Monsieur Durand's role as the household head grappling with profound challenges. The play explores themes of financial collapse, family relationships, misunderstandings, and despair, showcasing Monsieur Durand's intense emotional journey as he seeks to resolve misconceptions and protect his daughters.

Symbolism, such as the burning house and the extinguished candle, is used to highlight the family's plight and Monsieur Durand's inner conflicts. Family tension stems from misunderstandings about his past, his nationality, and his wife's actions, creating an atmosphere of conflict and hopelessness.

The emotional complexity of the characters emerges through their interactions, exposing the strained dynamics within the family. Monsieur Durand's heart-wrenching decision to consume poison to shield his daughters from future hardship underscores his despair and sense of duty.

Strindberg skilfully constructs the play to elicit empathy and provoke reflection on familial bonds, financial hardships, and the burden of misconceptions. The dramatic climax, marked by the looming fire and Monsieur Durand's tragic demise, leaves a profound impression, inviting the audience to ponder the intricate nature of human relationships and the consequences of despair and misjudgements.

Key Themes:

• Financial Ruin: The play starkly portrays the devastating impact of financial hardship on a family.
• Family Dysfunction: Years of resentment, deceit, and suppressed emotions have eroded family bonds, leading to constant conflict and recriminations.
• The Burden of the Past: Durand is haunted by past mistakes, his wife's manipulations, and the weight of his own secrets.
• Facing Mortality: The play explores themes of death and acceptance, as Durand confronts his own mortality and seeks redemption.

Notable Aspects:

• Symbolic Imagery: The fire symbolizes the culmination of the family's destruction and Durand's own internal combustion.
• Social Commentary: The play offers a critical look at social class, financial insecurity, and the impact of societal pressures on individuals.
• Psychological Realism: Strindberg delves into the complexities of human relationships, exploring themes of guilt, resentment, and the destructive power of secrets.

"Facing Death" is a powerful and tragic portrayal of a family crumbling under the weight of its own internal conflicts and the harsh realities of life.