Oulanem, A Tragedy is a poetic play written by Karl Marx in 1839 during his years as a student.[1][2] The action takes place in a mountain town in Italy where a mysterious German stranger, Oulanem and his companion Lucindo, arrive.[3] The play was translated into English first by Robert Payne in 1971.[4]
Marx only completed the first act of the play.[1] The titular character's name is an anagram of Manuelo, which is believed to be a reference to Immanuel, the biblical name for Jesus Christ.[4] The first act includes a soliloquy in which Oulanem asks himself if he must destroy the world.