Der Snob by Carl Sternheim

Description

Der Snob by Carl Sternheim is a comedy written in the early 20th century. This play unfolds the life of Christian Maske as he navigates his aspirations for social advancement and the underlying tensions with his family, particularly in relation to his father’s unexpected actions. The author explores themes of class, societal expectations, and personal ambition while delivering sharp wit and satire. At the start of the play, we are introduced to Christian Maske, who is grappling with both his father’s scandalous conduct—a recent affair resulting in a child—and his own burgeoning career aspirations as he is poised to become the general director of a prominent company. Christian’s conversation with his confidante, Sybil, reveals his complex feelings about familial obligations versus his desires for social acceptance. As the story unfolds, we see the strains in his relationships, particularly with his father Theobald, who is apprehensive about the changes in their lives and social standings, indicating a deeper commentary on class disparity and personal identity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)