Super Short Summary

The Broken Jug by Heinrich von Kleist is a satirical play set in a small Dutch village where Judge Adam presides over a trial to uncover who broke Martha Rull's ceramic jug, while desperately trying to conceal his own culpability. The case reveals layers of farce, with the judge's attempt to deflect blame, ultimately exposing his misconduct and drawing parallels to the Biblical story of Adam and Eve.