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Scene 10
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Woyzeck, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Human Nature
Secrecy, Paranoia, and Betrayal
Poverty and Suffering
Character vs. Circumstance
Summary
Analysis
Woyzeck and Andres are in the guardroom. Andres sings a song about a lady who sits in her garden all day to watch “two passing regiments.” Woyzeck listens to the sound of music coming from the nearby inn and feels restless. He tells Andres that “they’re” dancing and that he (Woyzeck) “ha[s] no peace.” His thoughts are racing. Andres asks Woyzeck what he wants to do. Woyzeck says he must leave and “must see.” Andres calls him a “slave.”
Note that although Woyzeck has not yet seen Marie with the drum major, his earlier, humiliating interaction with the doctor and captain has caused his existing paranoia to surge, priming him to expect the worst. Now, the mere sound of music leaves him on edge, apparently fearful that if he goes to the inn, he will find Marie there dancing with the drum major.
Themes
