The philosopher and educationalist Rudolf Steiner was also aradical dramatist who wrote four lengthy and complex plays. Thefirst of these, The Portal of Initiation, is rich in content and artisticallypresented, but leaves us with questions: Why is the first scene solong and many speeches so lengthy? Why are our usualexpectations of drama not met? Was Steiner really a competentdramatist?In this essential guide, Trevor Dance suggests that the first step toappreciating The Portal of Initiation is to understand Steiner’smethods. The play belongs to the tradition of Mystery Dramas fromancient times – artistic works intended as vehicles for innerdevelopment. Steiner thus combines aspects of Goethe’s alchemicalfable The Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily with the spiritual growthof contemporary individuals – all in the broader context ofreincarnation and karma. With accessibility in mind, the authorprovides a clear synopsis of each scene and introduces us to thecharacters – a collection of rustics, sophisticates, hierophants andspiritual entities. Their dilemmas and challenges take place onmany layers of reality: from a room in Sophia’s house to the exaltedSun Temple.Revealing the enigmas behind the creation and content of The Portalof Initiation, Dance enables us not only to enjoy the play, but also tolove it. His lucid guide – the first of its kind – is an idealintroduction for both individual readers and study groups.
