Das Käthchen von Heilbronn

Das Käthchen von Heilbronn oder Die Feuerprobe (Katie of Heilbronn or The Trial by Fire) (1807–1808) is a "great historical knightly play" (German: ein großes historisches Ritterschauspiel) in five acts by the German playwright Heinrich von Kleist. The action of the drama takes place in Swabia during the Middle Ages.

The play was first performed at the Theater an der Wien on 17 March 1810 and then published in the same year. Originally, the first two acts appeared separately with the play Phöbus, also by Kleist. Although the play has gained respect among modern audiences, it was originally largely rejected. Goethe, who was director of the theatre at Weimar when it was written, refused at first to present it, calling it "a jumble of sense and nonsense." It was also passed over by the Dresdener Hoftheater and the Berliner Schauspielhaus, and in Germany the play was initially only seen in Bamberg's less famous theatre.

Act 1 – In an underground cave of the Secret Court (Vehmgericht) lit by a single lamp

The play begins in the secretly convened court in which Count von Strahl is being accused by Theobald, a blacksmith in the town of Heilbronn, of bewitching his young and beautiful daughter Käthchen. In the court they refer to several events in which Käthchen shows an unnatural possession. The first being when Count von Strahl enters his shop and Käthchen bows before him "as if struck by lightning". The second and more daring attempt by Käthchen to follow the Count involves her throwing herself out of a second story window as he leaves. Using almost bully like tactics of interrogation, Käthchen confesses to never having been bewitched. Upon this interrogation of Käthchen, the highly esteemed Count is found not guilty of any action involving Theobald’s daughter and the court dismisses the case entirely.

Act 2 – In a forest near the underground cave of the Secret Court. Later in the mountains near a coal miner's hut. It is night with thunder and lightning

At the beginning of Kleist’s second act Count von Strahl enters into a monologue about his yearning and passionate love for Käthchen. Throughout the monologue it becomes increasingly evident that he will never act upon these feelings, given the vast social class division. We also learn of the Count’s enemy Kunigunde, whose impending lawsuits would take away much of Strahl’s rightful lands. Her former suitor, Maximilian Frederick, however, has kidnapped Kunigunde. Strahl unknowingly defeats her enemy’s capturer and frees Kunigunde. The rules of hospitality at the time require that he invite her back to his castle, whereupon she learns of a dream. The dream indicates that he will find his future bride in the daughter of the emperor. Kunigunde, aware of the information, presents herself as this prophesied woman. Soon after the Count begins to consider making Kunigunde his wife.

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Wikipedia