Die Familie Schroffenstein

In the organizer's words:

"Since ancient times
There has been between our two count's houses,
Von Rossitz and von Warwand a contract of inheritance,
By virtue of which, after the complete extinction
Of the one tribe, the entire estate
of the same should fall to the other."

This inheritance contract is the reason for a conflict between the two clans of the Schroffenstein family that has been smouldering for years. It is only with great difficulty that the two parties manage to maintain the balance they have created. Mistrust and the mutual insinuation that the other wants to take over the family property cause resentment and permanent uncertainty. At any moment, the whole thing could turn into a war of all against all. And this point seems to have been reached when the Rossitz family have to bury the youngest son of their head. A suspect and a motive for Peter's death are quickly found: Sylvester, the head of the Warwands, is to blame. He has long been waiting for the end of the Rossitz branch so that he can finally inherit their property. The Rossitzers swear revenge in turn, setting events in motion in which mutual mistrust leads the hostile families to disaster.
Questions about revenge and justice, about the fragile order of the world and ultimately about the conflict between truth and lies are once again of interest in the drama published by Kleist in 1803.