Kaspar (play)

Kaspar is a play written by Austrian playwright Peter Handke, first performed in 1968. It is considered one of Handke's most significant works and a key example of "Sprechstücke" (speech plays), a theatrical form that emphasizes the power and manipulation of language.

The play centers on Kaspar Hauser, a historical figure who appeared in Nuremberg in 1828, having apparently grown up in complete isolation. Handke's Kaspar is not a biographical account of Hauser but rather an exploration of the process of language acquisition and its impact on individual identity and socialization.

The play begins with Kaspar uttering only a single sentence: "Ich will so werden, wie einmal ein anderer gewesen ist will ich einmal werden." ("I want to become like someone else once was, I want to become once.") Through a process of linguistic instruction and manipulation by unseen prompters (often referred to as "Inciters" or "Prompters"), Kaspar is gradually taught language, and with it, societal norms and expectations.

A central theme of Kaspar is the violence inherent in language. The prompters' language doesn't simply teach Kaspar; it also controls and shapes him. As he learns to speak, he also learns to lie, to conform, and to lose his initial, pre-linguistic innocence. The play highlights how language can be used as a tool for both communication and oppression, and how it shapes our perception of reality.

Another significant aspect of the play is its metatheatrical nature. The theatrical apparatus itself is often exposed, drawing attention to the artificiality of the performance and the constructed nature of language and identity. The prompters' presence and direct address to the audience further underscore this.

Kaspar is often interpreted as a critique of societal conformity and the pressures to assimilate. By showcasing the process of linguistic conditioning, Handke challenges audiences to reflect on the ways in which language shapes their own thoughts and behaviors. The play's ambiguous ending, where Kaspar continues to struggle with language and identity, leaves the audience with lingering questions about the possibility of individual autonomy in a world saturated with language and social control.