Essay Questions

Why does Franz despise his older brother, Karl, and how did their father influence their relationship?

The two brothers, Franz and Karl, are the main characters in the play. Despite being brothers, the two do not get along at all and get often into arguments and disagreements. The reason why the two brothers do not get along has to do with the money Karl will inherit once his father dies. Because Karl is the oldest, he will inherit a much bigger portion from his father than Franz even though he is less capable of dealing with a large amount of money. Franz meanwhile, as a younger child, is ignored by his family even though he is a capable and responsible person. The Count is also to blame for the lack of understanding between the two brothers. From the beginning of the play, it is implied that the father neglected Franz and doted on Karl, making the relationship between the two brothers even more difficult.

Explain the title of the play.

The title given to the play is a very representative one and can be seen as describing the main characters. In a way, every character steals something from those close to them and this inevitably causes a lot of tension. Count of Moor for example stole the affection he had to give Franz and gave it to Karl, without thinking how this will affect his youngest son. Karl stole what many saw as being rightfully Franz's without even realizing it and spent all those money without a shred of remorse. Lastly, Franz planned to take revenge on his father and brother and steal all the money they loved so much.

In which literary movement can the play be placed in?

The play is often characterized as belonging to the Sturm und Drang , popular among german writers and composers in the 18th century. The creative movement inspired artists such as Wagner and Goethe and created some of the most appreciated works of writing. The name of the movement can be translated as "storm and drive" and is a direct reference made to the internal tension which exists inside the works of art. The play The Robbers has all the classic characteristics of the movement and the main characters are truly Sturm und Drang heroes. The characters are not motivated by heroic ideas or ideals but rather by greed and violence. These feelings inevitably push the characters to commit crimes that are violent or cunning in nature. The characters are human, with flaws and qualities that make them relatable. The romantic hero which was perfect can no longer be found and is instead replaced by imperfection and a raw sense of humanity.