The Weavers

play by Hauptmann
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Also known as: “Die Weber”

The Weavers, naturalistic drama in five acts by Gerhart Hauptmann, published in 1892 and performed in 1893 as Die Weber. The play is based on the revolt of the Silesian weavers of 1844 and portrays in a starkly realistic manner the human cost of the Industrial Revolution.

The work reveals how, reduced to destitution because of the introduction of power looms, the weavers are driven to revolt. They march on the home of Dreissiger, their arrogant, exploitative employer, sack his house, and achieve a temporary victory over a company of armed soldiers.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.