Which recurring structural conflict in Expressionist literature is famously illustrated in Walter Hasenclever's play 'The Son' ('Der Sohn')?
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Correct answer: A symbolic generational revolt of a son against his tyrannical, patriarchal father
Hasenclever's 'The Son' is a defining example of the Expressionist 'Father-Son conflict' (Vater-Sohn-Konflikt). This trope was never just a domestic argument; it symbolized the young generation's violent rejection of the old, rigid, Wilhelmine authoritarian system that had led Europe into war. The father represents cold authority, while the son represents freedom and emotional rebirth.
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