How does Michael Frayn's Copenhagen portray the meeting between Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg in 1941?
In Michael Frayn's
play "Copenhagen," the meeting between Niels Bohr and Werner
Heisenberg in 1941 is portrayed as a pivotal and tense encounter. The play
delves into the complex relationship between these two renowned physicists, who
were once colleagues and friends but found themselves on opposite sides during
World War II.
The meeting takes place in Nazi-occupied Copenhagen, were Heisenberg,
working for Hitler's war effort, visits Bohr under Gestapo surveillance. The
play captures the intense dialogue and emotional dynamics between the
characters as they grapple with personal and ethical dilemmas. The tension
escalates as Bohr becomes angry and their friendship ultimately dissolves,
reflecting the larger historical context of scientific collaboration and moral
responsibility during wartime.
Frayn's portrayal of the meeting goes beyond a simple historical
reenactment; it delves into the characters' inner thoughts, memories, and
conflicting perspectives. The play explores themes of uncertainty, memory, and
the blurred boundaries between reality and fiction, inviting the audience to
contemplate the complexities of human relationships and moral choices in times
of crisis.
Overall, "Copenhagen" offers a nuanced and thought-provoking
depiction of the meeting between Bohr and Heisenberg, highlighting the ethical
and philosophical implications of their encounter within the context of wartime
politics and scientific responsibility.
Frayn, M. (2000). Copenhagen.
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