
Original
Original - THE LIFE OF MAN - A Play In Five Acts - By Leonidas Andreyev - Translated By C. J. Hogarth - London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd. New York: The Macmillan Company. - 1915
PROLOGUE
ACT I—THE BIRTH OF THE MAN
ACT II—LOVE AND POVERTY
ACT III—THE BALL GIVEN BY THE MAN
Original
ACT IV—RUIN AND BEREAVEMENT
ACT V—THE DEATH OF THE MAN
A cloaked figure in grey introduces the drama, speaking from a featureless, mist‑filled room that seems to exist outside any ordinary world. Its monotone narration frames the entire human experience as a candle flickering from birth to death, hinting at fate, longing and the inevitable passage of time. The stage is deliberately austere, allowing the characters—father, wife, doctors, servants, friends—to emerge as archetypes rather than fully fleshed individuals. This opening sets a contemplative mood that carries through the five‑act structure.
From the first act we meet a youthful man full of promise, his relationships and ambitions sketched against a backdrop of shifting light that mirrors his inner vitality. Subsequent acts trace his transition into marriage, parenthood, professional obligations, and the gradual dimming of his aspirations, each scene populated by recurring figures who reflect different facets of society. The dialogue balances stark realism with symbolic language, inviting listeners to consider how ordinary choices echo across a lifetime. Though the story remains grounded in personal moments, it constantly circles back to the unseen, grey narrator who watches impartially.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (128K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger from page images generously provided by the Internet Archive
Release date
Sep 2, 2015
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1871–1919
A major voice of early Russian modernism, he wrote haunting stories and plays filled with moral conflict, spiritual unrest, and intense psychological drama. His work helped lay the foundations of Expressionism in Russian literature.
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