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Scene 17
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 is in a small shop examining a knife for sale. The Jewish owner says it’s very sharp and offers Woyzeck a good price. Woyzeck buys it for two groschen and then leaves.
This scene marks a major development in Woyzeck’s gradual descent into madness. Not only is he having disturbing dreams and delusional thoughts, but he has taken the major step to act on those delusions, buying a knife, most likely to harm Marie or the drum major, or possibly both.
Themes
