The Piccolomini: A Play

"The Piccolomini" by Friedrich Schiller is a historical drama set during the Thirty Years' War that examines themes of loyalty, ambition, and political games. The play focuses on characters like Wallenstein and the Piccolominis, father and son, as they struggle with their responsibilities amid war and personal feelings. Beginning in a busy council chamber, the play introduces military leaders talking about Wallenstein's increasing power, establishing the play’s underlying tension. The eagerness of soldiers returning from battle and the complex relationships among the characters, especially the split between Octavio’s worries about Wallenstein and Max’s hopes for peace, all point to upcoming confrontations sparked by Wallenstein's leadership and those arrayed against him.