Das Heimkehrmotiv in Kotzebues Einaktern: Struktur und Bedeutung eines wiederkehrenden Themas
In this guest contribution, offered as a virtual gift for the Picnic, Dîlan Canan Çakir (Berlin) examines how Kotzebue skillfully weaves the motif of homecoming into his plays—not merely as a plot device, but as a reflection of social and cultural tensions. Drawing on research from the digital one-act play database (1740–1850), she reveals how this theme runs through Kotzebue’s work, shaping emotional intensity and driving dramatic resolutions. From heartfelt reunions to unexpected turns, discover how Kotzebue’s one-acts harness the theme of homecoming to ignite conflict, evoke emotion, and ultimately restore harmony—all within the tight, fast-moving world of the one-act play.