Joseph and His Brethren (play)

Joseph and His Brethren is a play written by the Austrian novelist Thomas Mann. It is a dramatic adaptation derived from his four-part novel of the same name, Joseph and His Brothers (also known as Joseph and His Brethren).

The play, like the novel, retells the biblical story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis, focusing on his tumultuous relationship with his jealous brothers, his enslavement in Egypt, and his eventual rise to power. Mann’s adaptation explores the psychological complexities of the characters, imbuing them with a rich interior life and exploring themes of destiny, jealousy, forgiveness, and the power of storytelling. The play, though less well-known than the novel, is a significant example of Mann’s engagement with biblical narratives and his exploration of the human condition through historical and mythological lenses. It retains much of the novel's philosophical depth and symbolic layers, though necessarily condensing the extensive narrative.