Mörder, Hoffnung der Frauen

The play "Mörder, Hoffnung der Frauen" (Murderer, Hope of Women) by Oskar Kokoschka is considered one of the first truly Expressionist dramas. Written in 1909, it emerged from the same rebellious spirit against materialism that characterized Expressionism. The play, along with Kokoschka's other early works, liberates Strindberg's depictions of destructive relationships from articulate speech, relying instead on violent visual imagery.1

Expressionist drama, in general, used grotesque distortion to critique the soullessness of modern technology and the subjugation of workers. However, it often held a more optimistic view of the machine age, seeing it as a potential tool for a socialist utopia. Expressionist theatre aimed to transform the audience's consciousness, using abstract or highly subjective settings that became dramatic forces themselves. Characters were often impersonal or served as illustrations of a protagonist's inner state.21