Spring Awakening: A Children’s Tragedy

Content Warning: This section of the summary covers plot details of rape.

Wendla finds Melchior shirking farm work in a hayloft. He’s ashamed of beating her and yells for her to leave; she insists on staying. She asks him to come outside in the storm with her and the others to escape the stifling darkness of the hayloft. He replies that it’s more pleasant in the hayloft: “The hay has such a wonderful smell.—The sky out there must be as black as the cloth on a coffin.—All I can see is the glowing poppy on your breast—and I can hear your heart beating—” (42). Wendla begs him not to kiss her, saying they risk having a baby if they fall in love. Melchior retorts that love doesn’t exist, only selfishness, and that neither of them loves the other. He then rapes her.

Mrs. Gabor responds to a letter Moritz sent her requesting money to escape the pressures of his life by going to America. She explains that she cannot support his rash idea because she doesn’t think it is in his best interest. She offers to write to his parents to explain how hard he works.

Mrs. Gabor reprimands Moritz for threatening suicide if she doesn’t help him but allows that he is young and confused.