3 Review(s)

The play centers around Hassan, a young man from Baghdad, who embarks on a journey to Samarkand in pursuit of wealth, love, and self-discovery. The story is steeped in the allure of the Orient, featuring themes of fate, destiny, and the pursuit of ideals. Hassan’s journey is marked by a series of trials, including encounters with powerful figures, magical beings, and romantic entanglements. At its heart, the play is about the transformation of Hassan as he learns that the true "golden journey" is not one of material wealth but of spiritual enlightenment and personal growth.Flecker’s writing is lush and richly descriptive, filled with references to Persian and Arabian mythology and culture. The play reflects the author’s fascination with the East and its symbolism of mystery and wonder. The narrative is an allegory of human aspiration, where Hassan’s external journey mirrors his internal quest for meaning. The characters, while colorful and vivid, are often symbolic representations of philosophical ideas, with the play exploring the tension between worldly desires and the higher pursuit of wisdom and self-understanding.