Divisive Fore-play in the "Vorspiel" of Grillparzer's "Libussa"

A close reading of Libussa's opening scene demonstrates how this "Vorspiel" conveys visually and linguistically the general theme of separation: high from low, aristocracy from peasantry and female from male. Despite being drawn to one another at a meeting and parting occasioned by two other instances of Scheiden, Libussa's and Primislaus' final position as "Getrennte" anticipates the tragedy's concluding message.