Adolescent Sexuality

One of the prevailing themes of Wedekind's play is the approach and effects of puberty in a world where sexuality is taboo, especially for young teenagers. The adults do not want to talk about sex or have their children exposed to sex. Wendla's mother is afraid to answer any of Wendla's questions about where babies come from, and Wendla does not even realize that she can get pregnant from what happens in the hayloft.

With the onset of sexuality, the boys are consumed with desires they don't understand. Moritz's body is awakening, giving him dreams that he can't understand, and he is desperate for information when he asks Melchior to write down the truth about sex. Melchior's direct, factual discussion of sex is so offensive to the teachers at his school that they expel him and condemn him as an immoral influence and probably the cause of...