The Little Dream: An Allegory in Six Scenes

"The Little Dream: An Allegory in Six Scenes" by John Galsworthy is a play written in the early 20th century. This allegorical work explores themes of life, love, and the contrasting experiences of rural and urban existence through a dream-like narrative. It features a young mountain girl named Seelchen, who finds herself caught between the allure of the town and the beauty of her mountain home, represented through various characters and symbols. The play unfolds in six scenes, initiating with Seelchen's encounter with Lamond, a climber, who aspires to scale the Great Horn mountain. Through their interactions, the narrative evolves into a dream where Seelchen is confronted by personified mountains and flowers, each representing different aspects of life—tranquility, adventure, and the bittersweet nature of love. As Seelchen navigates this dream world, she must reconcile her feelings for Lamond and Felsman while exploring the dualities of her existence. In the end, the allegory culminates in a profound statement about the nature of love and the human experience, leaving readers to ponder the balance between the serenity of nature and the chaos of urban life. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

John Galsworthy was an English novelist and playwright. He is best known for his trilogy of novels collectively called The Forsyte Saga, and two later trilogies, A Modern Comedy and End of the Chapter. He was awarded the 1932 Nobel Prize in Literature.