History Theatre / Lulu

* DefiledForever: As far as the male characters, notably Dr. Schön, are concerned, Lulu is unwelcome in respectable society because of her history.

* CorruptionOfAMinor: Where to begin? Schigolch, as Lulu’s supposed father and first pimp, definitely qualifies.

In a Prologue, the characters in the drama are introduced by an ‘Animal Tamer’ as if they are creatures in a travelling circus. Lulu herself is likened to a [[TheGardenOfEden serpent]], described as “the true animal, the wild, beautiful animal” and the “primal form of woman”.

In a Prologue, the characters in the drama are introduced by an ‘Animal Tamer’ as if they are creatures in a travelling circus. Lulu herself is likened to a [[ForbiddenFruit serpent]], described as “the true animal, the wild, beautiful animal” and the “primal form of woman”.

* SoBeautifulItsACurse: More like "so seductive, it's a curse", since whether Lulu is classically beautiful is open to conjecture, but practically all the characters find her irresistibly seductive. It's especially jarring to remember that she is only an adolescent throughout the show and the implication that Schigolch introduced her to sex when she was only a child.

Lulu is now married to Dr Schön but is unfaithful to him with several other people (Schigolch, Alwa, the circus artist Rodrigo Quast and the lesbian Countess Geschwitz). Geschwitz remains the only person in the drama who actually cares about Lulu, though it hardly means anything to Lulu. On discovering this, Schön presses a revolver into her hand, urging her to kill herself. Instead, she uses it to shoot Schön, all the while declaring him the only man she has ever loved. She is imprisoned for her crime.

* InnocentSoprano: Averted totally with Lulu herself. A former street child who has been groomed to be a rich man's concubine, she is anything but innocent.

* Blackmail: In Paris, the Marquis Casti-Piani knows that Germany's police are still after Lulu for the murder of Dr. Schön and he threatens her: he can either simply summon the police and claim the reward money or he can sell her to a brothel in Cairo, to which he has already sent a painting of her.

* ForbiddenFruit: Lulu herself. The male characters who lust after her often meet unfortunate fates, and to a modern audience Lulu is very much forbidden fruit considering her [[JailBait extreme youth]].

* HumansAreBastards: Mostly averted with Countess Geschwitz. Not so much with the other characters.

In a Prologue, the characters in the drama are introduced by an ‘Animal Tamer’ as if they are creatures in a travelling circus. Lulu herself is likened to a serpent, described as “the true animal, the wild, beautiful animal” and the “primal form of woman”.

In a Prologue, the characters in the drama are introduced by an ‘Animal Tamer’ as if they are creatures in a travelling circus. Lulu herself is described as “the true animal, the wild, beautiful animal” and the “primal form of woman”, whatever that means.

* InnocentFlowerGirl: Supposedly what Lulu was before the play began, but a number of flower girls in the late 1800s [[HumanTrafficking were actually in prostitution and sold flowers as a front]]. It fits with Lulu's history, considering that Schigolch (who may or may not be her father) seems to have been her first pimp.

* InnocentFlowerGirl: Supposedly what Lulu was before the play began, but a number of flower girls in the late 1800s were actually in prostitution and sold flowers as a front. It fits with Lulu's history, considering that Schigolch (who may or may not be her father) seems to have been her first pimp.

* AbhorrantAdmirer: Lulu is pursued relentlessly by the male characters, as well as by one woman (the only one of Lulu's admirers who actually cares about her and does ''anything'' selfless for her).

Originally a play in five acts by Frank Wedekind before he split it into two plays, ''Erdgeist'' ("Earth Spirit'') (1895) and "Die Büchse der Pandora'' ("Pandora's Box") (1905). Alban Berg subsequently adapted it into his three-act [[Opera]], ''Lulu'', in 1937, but he had to put it aside after finishing just two acts out of three and died before he could finish it. The opera was finally completed in 1977 by Friedrich Cerha.

Originally a play in five acts by Frank Wedekind before he split it into two plays, ''Erdgeist'' ("Earth Spirit'') (1895) and "Die Büchse der Pandora'' ("Pandora's Box") (1905). Alban Berg subsequently adapted it into his three-act {{Theatre/Opera opera}}, ''Lulu'', in 1937, but he had to put it aside after finishing just two acts out of three and died before he could finish it. The opera was finally completed in 1977 by Friedrich Cerha.

Originally a play in five acts by Frank Wedekind before he split it into two plays, ''Erdgeist'' ("Earth Spirit'') (1895) and "Die Büchse der Pandora'' ("Pandora's Box") (1905). Alban Berg subsequently adapted it into his three-act [[Theatre/Opera opera]], ''Lulu'', in 1937, but he had to put it aside after finishing just two acts out of three and died before he could finish it. The opera was finally completed in 1977 by Friedrich Cerha.

* InLoveWithLooks: All the male characters who pursue Lulu. Acrobat Rodrigo Quast notably wants Lulu to join him in the circus after she has escaped from prison, but when he sees her weakened and [[TarnishedBeauty haggard]] from cholera he decides that she is no longer suited to his purposes.

Originally a play in five acts by Frank Wedekind before he split it into two plays, ''Erdgeist'' ("Earth Spirit'') (1895) and "Die Büchse der Pandora'' ("Pandora's Box") (1905). Alban Berg subsequently adapted it into his three-act opera, ''Lulu'', in 1937, but he had to put it aside after finishing just two acts out of three and died before he could finish it. The opera was finally completed in 1977 by Friedrich Cerha.