The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann, Volume I

** "The Dramatic Works of Gerhart Hauptmann, Volume I" by Gerhart Hauptmann presents a collection of plays from the closing years of the 1800s, spotlighting the everyday existence and hardships of common folk, especially the working class in Silesia. These plays explore social inequality, battles between the wealthy and poor, and what it means to be human, showcasing the person who wrote them awareness of social issues and artistic point of view. A preface written by Ludwig Lewisohn kicks off the volume, outlining Hauptmann's life story, what inspired him, and why his work matters. One of the plays, titled "Before Dawn", starts in the countryside, in a simple farmer's home, and introduces characters like Krause, his family, and visitors, revealing their relationships and social interactions. Key to the conversations is Alfred Loth, an engineer who has big ideas, who represents a feeling of disappointment and a desire to make society better, even when faced with personal and social problems. This beginning effectively prepares the audience for Hauptmann's stories of complicated relationships between people against the backdrop of a society that is changing. **