BENT
The Legacy of the Pink Triangle A Seminal Work by Martin Sherman PLAYWRIGHT Martin Sherman LITERATURE TYPE Modern Drama / Historical Fiction MOVEMENT Social Realism / LGBTQ+ Activism KEY SYMBOL The Pink Triangle Bent is a seminal work by American playwright Martin Sherman that explores the harrowing persecution of gay men in Nazi Germany. It is widely credited with bringing the historical reality of the "Pink Triangle" to the forefront of public consciousness, detailing a chapter of history that was long suppressed. The Story & Historical Context The narrative begins in 1934 Berlin during the Night of the Long Knives , a pivotal moment when Hitler consolidated power by purging the SA, including many high-ranking gay officials. The Protagonist: Max is a hedonistic man who, after a night of debauchery, is forced to flee with his partner, Rudy. To survive Dachau, he makes the agonizing choice to wear a Yellow Star rather than a Pink Triangle, believing it offers a slightly...