This comedy, The Broken Jug, is laden with double entendres. The jug is a symbol of Eve's virtue, the cracks of corruption in a broken society, and the splintered future that Frau Marthe wants repaired, or restitution made for the damage. Adam is the corrupt judge, but also alludes to Adam in the garden of Eden and his fall from grace. He is also a symbol of the corrupt state of authority, and how the state of authority is more important than individuals in the village. Eve is one of the individuals of the village, but also symbolizes Eve in the garden of Eden, who is conned by the serpent into eating the forbidden fruit. In this story, Eve is the forbidden fruit. Licht is the light, or truth in the story. Walter is also a Judge, and in a position of authority. At one point in the story, Walter could care less if Adam is corrupt. He just wants order restored to the courtroom, no matter the cost. At the end of the play on YouTube, I noticed Walter offered to buy Ruprecht out of military service if he needed to, which restores complete faith in his authority for Ruprecht and Eve. They were totally happy afterwards, which means they were symbolically paid off by the government official Judge Walter, reinstating the power of the state authority and reinforcing the government.
This whole story, however funny, is based on sexual desire. Eve desires Ruprecht and wants to keep him from leaving her to go to war, and quite possibly never returning. Judge Adam desires Eve, and uses his position of authority to gain access to Eve's home and bedroom. Ruprecht desires Eve, and breaks into her bedroom, breaking the jug, and accusing different men of desiring her, as well. Did anyone notice that Ruprecht actually was the one that broke the jug? Can this be interpreted to mean that Eve's virtue was actually damaged by Ruprecht instead of Judge Adam? Can this also be interpreted that the individuals of the society are cracking apart their own institution out of rage, instead of trying to find a logical solution? At one point in the story, someone points out that Frau Marthe can easily repair the jug if she would. Another question- is Eve destroying her own virtue by being so in love with Ruprecht that she will lie to keep him?
I'm not really sure the answers to my questions, but I do know there were some very interesting messages hidden in the story. I would be very curious to know the author's intent, because there are multiple interpretations.
I think it's interesting that the plot delivers the punishment to the liar in Judge Adam, but not the lies that are told by some of the other minor characters. It's almost in suggestion that the lies of those in authority are more punishable than those of a commoner, but then again, I think it's possible that could be the case. I /think/ this film was shot during the time of the Weimar Republic, between the two world wars, when there was rampant disorganization, inflation and economic collapse in Germany, if my memory serves me correctly. With this in mind, I find it entirely possible that this disparity could have been the result of such a political motive.
ReplyDeleteA great catalog of the double meanings! You might not know this, but Walter's name comes from "walten" which means "to rule, govern or guide." Oh, and well noted that Adam wasn't technically the one who broke the jug (not directly, that is).
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