Spring Awakening is based upon an older tale that has acquired much of its inspiration from a very controversial masterpiece in literature that was considered so audacious in its portrayal of early self-discovering adolescent that it was barred from English speaking theaters. The story was not permitted to be performed in its inclusive format for nearly one hundred years after its inception.
The tale centers around the year 1891 in the country of Germany, where the adults or grown ups are in total and complete control of teenagers lives. Here we have a young beautiful girl freshly approaching the flower hood of her youth while exploring the many unusual mysteries revolving around her own body. She would often run her hands up and down her body wondering aloud where newborn babies originate from until her mother sternly instructs her to be silent on such matters and to place some decent clothing upon her body.
In another section of the country, you chance to meet the fearless and brilliant young Melchior who does not hesitate to interrupt his Latin exercise and class work in argument of his friend Moritz, who portrays a young boy so distressed by the onset of puberty that he is unable to concentrate on anything. Regardless of the reason for the interruption of the class the headmaster is not impressed and precedes to strikes both of them with his cane and then instructs them to submit their lesson for grading at that time.
One spring afternoon in a concealed location of the woods, Wendla and Melchior meet each other quite by mistake and shortly they discover within themselves a passionate desire different then any feelings they previously have had.
Over a period of time, as they awkwardly fall uncontrollably into each others waiting arms, Moritz struggles and before long he fails his lessons and drops out of the school. When his one adult friend who just happens to be his mother forsakes him and ignores his petition for help, he is left distraught and discouraged. He is so disheartened that he has difficulty in perceiving the promise of a better life that he can obtain by his recluse companion Ilse.
The headmaster naturally wastes little time before accusing and pinning the “crime” for Moritz’s suicide upon Melchior and he then proceeds to expel him from the school. Additionally, the mother of Wendla soon learns that her lovely innocent daughter is pregnant. This story is the struggle these two young lovers must combat in order to build a beneficial life together for themselves and their child.
