SOURCE: Schneider-Halvorson, Brigitte L. “Im Spiel Der Sommerlüfte.” In The Late Dramatic Works of Arthur Schnitzler, pp. 113-135. New York: Peter Lang, 1983.

In the following essay, Schneider-Halvorson discusses various critical commentary, as well as Schnitzler's use of themes and symbols in the play Im Spiel Der Sommerlüfte.

Background of the Play and Statement of Purpose

The first performance of Schnitzler's play Im Spiel der Sommerlüfte took place on December 21, 1929, at the Deutsches Volkstheater in Vienna.¹ First publication was in 1930 by S. Fischer Verlag, Berlin.² According to Schnitzler's diary notes, he completed this three-act drama between February and April of 1928.³ His first ideas, however, date back to 1898, when he recorded: “Ein Stück ‘Sommernacht’ wird lebendig […]. Im Kaffeehaus entwarf ich den Plan eines dreiaktigen Stückes ‘Sommernachtstraum’.”⁴ More sketches and notes were added between 1911-1913; five years later a new sketch was written under the present...