The Joy of Living (Es lebe das Leben): A Play in Five Acts

"The Joy of Living (Es lebe das Leben): A Play in Five Acts" by Hermann Sudermann is a play set in late 19th century Berlin where Count Michael von Kellinghausen and his wife, Beata, find themselves caught between personal desires and political responsibilities during an election campaign. The story digs into how love, dedication, and eagerness for power clash as Beata worries about her husband's goals and what they mean for their family. The play kicks off in the Count's drawing-room with politicians and family talking about the election; here, we instantly see the strain between supporting Michael's decision to back Barón Richard von Völkerlingk and the characters' own feelings, setting the stage for drama among those involved.