Miss Julie

Miss Julie is a naturalistic play produced in 1888 by the Swedish playwright and novelist August Strindberg. The play follows the acute romantic entanglement of the three characters: Miss Julie, a young aristocratic woman; Jean, her father’s well-read and well-traveled valet; and Kristine, the cook. Through the psychological battle of wills between Julie and the ruthless Jean, the play explores themes of Class Conflict and Social Hierarchy, Gender Roles and Power Dynamics, and The Complexity and Contradictory Nature of People. Though the play was initially considered controversial, it has come to be regarded as a classic of Swedish literature. It has been staged many times and even adapted into movies and operas.

This study guide uses the 1983 edition of five plays by August Strindberg, published by the University of California Press and translated by Harry G. Carlson.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide include themes of power imbalance and class struggle, depictions of sexual dynamics that might be considered outdated or offensive by modern standards, violence against animals, and discussion of death by suicide.

Plot Summary

Miss Julie was published with an Author’s Preface in which Strindberg explains his approach to theater, character, and society.