Jephthah's Daughter (1865)

Jephthah's Daughter is a tragic play written by Charles Heavysege in 1865. The story is based on the biblical tale of Jephthah, a judge of Israel, who made a vow to sacrifice the first thing that came out of his house if he was victorious in battle. Unfortunately, his daughter was the first to greet him upon his return, and he was forced to fulfill his vow.The play explores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the consequences of rash promises. Heavysege's version of the story adds depth to the character of Jephthah, portraying him as a conflicted and tortured man who is torn between his loyalty to God and his love for his daughter.The play is divided into five acts and features a cast of memorable characters, including Jephthah's daughter, who struggles to come to terms with her fate, and a chorus of women who serve as a Greek chorus, commenting on the action and offering insight into the characters' motivations.Jephthah's Daughter is a powerful and thought-provoking work that has been praised for its poetic language and emotional depth. It remains a popular choice for theater companies and students of literature alike.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.