The Jewess of Toledo (German Classics)

Franz Grillparzer (1791 - 1872) was an Austrian dramatic poet. The Jewess of Toledo may perhaps be said to mark the climax of his productive activity. Written in 1851 it was first performed in Prague in 1872 after Grillparzers death. It is an eminently modern drama of passion in classical dignity of form. The play is properly called The Jewess of Toledo; for Rachel the Jewess is at the centre of the action and is a marvelous creation-a mere woman nothing but her sex; but the King of Castile though relatively passive is the most important character. He is attracted to Rachel by a charm that he has never known in his coldly virtuous English consort and after an error forgivable because made comprehensible is taught the duty of personal sacrifice to morality and to the state.