The Sorrows of Belgium: A Play in Six Scenes

"The Sorrows of Belgium: A Play in Six Scenes" by Leonid Andreyev is a dramatic work written in the early 20th century. This play captures the tragic circumstances of the Belgian people during World War I, particularly through the lens of a prominent Belgian author, Emil Grelieu, and his family. It addresses themes of suffering, resistance, and the moral complexities posed by war, reflecting Andreyev’s deep empathy for oppressed nations. The opening of the play sets a serene scene in Grelieu's garden as the war begins to encroach upon their lives. Characters like François, the deaf gardener, and Maurice, Grelieu's son, express a mix of alarm and disbelief as they come to terms with the reality of the German invasion. Grelieu himself appears anxious, consumed with conflict about his responsibilities and the implications of war. As the sounds of war grow nearer, the family's peaceful existence shatters, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of their emotional and moral dilemmas as they face the impending chaos. The stark contrast between the tranquil garden and the impending violence underscores the play's themes of disruption and sorrow. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Leonid Nikolaievich Andreyev was a Russian playwright, novelist and short-story writer, who is considered to be a father of Expressionism in Russian literature. He is regarded as one of the most talented and prolific representatives of the Silver Age literary period. Andreyev's style combines the elements of realist, naturalist, and symbolist schools in literature. Of his 25 plays, his 1915 play He Who Gets Slapped is regarded as his finest achievement.