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Act 1

Copenhagen unfolds entirely within a single, confined space. The first act commences in the same manner that the second act concludes—with a conversation about the 1941 meeting between Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg. Throughout the play, the characters, speaking from the afterlife, meticulously revisit the details of this encounter. They attempt to recapture the emotions, the atmosphere, and the events leading up to and during their brief walk outside Bohr’s home on that significant day.

The first act sets the scene with essential background information. During this period, Nazi Germany occupied Denmark, where the Bohrs resided. Niels Bohr, Denmark’s most esteemed scientist, was half Jewish, making him vulnerable under the occupation. Werner Heisenberg, a prominent physicist in Nazi Germany, shared Bohr’s knowledge of nuclear bomb creation. Once close colleagues, the two scientists now found themselves on opposing sides of the conflict.

Frayn delves into the relationship between Niels and Heisenberg. Niels, Margrethe, and Heisenberg discuss how Heisenberg, as a graduate student, came to study under Niels, who was hailed as the father of quantum physics. Heisenberg later developed the foundational principles of quantum mechanics. The characters reflect on their scientific discoveries and their personal relationship, which was once likened to that of father and son.

As the men reminisce, Margrethe repeatedly reminds her husband that Heisenberg was aligned with the Nazis and thus their adversary. Heisenberg does not entirely dispute this but suggests that, despite being German, he endeavored to ensure the Bohrs' safety from the Nazis. Heisenberg himself was not entirely secure during the war; he was under constant surveillance, deemed suspicious, and interrogated by the Nazis multiple times. He was labeled a “white Jew” by the Nazis because he taught Einstein’s relativity theory, which they disparagingly called “Jewish physics.” Heisenberg recalls his reluctance to speak openly with Bohr during their notorious meeting, aware that Bohr’s house was likely bugged.

Heisenberg had the opportunity to teach in the United States, as many German physicists had done, but chose to remain in Germany, hoping to endure the war and assist in rebuilding the scientific community afterward.

Meanwhile, the Bohrs express their apprehensions about Heisenberg’s visit. They were concerned that their fellow Danes might suspect them of collaborating with the Nazis. Before Heisenberg’s arrival that evening, Margrethe had warned Niels to focus solely on physics and avoid discussing politics.

Margrethe and Niels are trying to understand why Heisenberg might want to visit them. Their conversation soon turns to the topic of fission. Niels has been working on fission for three years and doubts that Heisenberg has done any work in this field. However, Margrethe argues that since everyone else is working on it, why wouldn't Heisenberg? She suggests that Heisenberg might be developing a nuclear weapon for Germany. Niels is skeptical, believing that, based on calculations at the time, such advancements in weaponry were still many years away. The process was complex and required not only a significant amount of time but also an almost unimaginable amount of resources. Nonetheless, the couple continues to discuss nuclear fission, providing the audience with historical context on the development of atomic research and its potential consequences.

The scene then shifts back to 1941, where the three characters reenact their meeting. They greet each other awkwardly, having not seen one another for many years and having been separated by numerous events. Their conversation starts with shared memories of skiing and vacations. Interwoven with these memories is a discussion on fission, as each scientist tries to gauge the other's progress in their research. However, differing political contexts—such as Nazism, the occupation of Denmark, and...

(This entire section contains 1346 words.)

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the Holocaust—disrupt the flow of their conversation.

The characters continue to blend discussions of quantum physics—using skiing metaphors to elucidate the science—with personal tragedies, such as the loss of a son in each family. The two men then take their famous walk. During their absence, Margrethe provides more personal insights into the men's relationship. Upon their return, Niels's abrupt demeanor towards Heisenberg leads Margrethe to suspect that something Heisenberg said has deeply upset him. After Heisenberg leaves, Niels repeatedly insists that Heisenberg must be wrong. When Margrethe inquires about what Niels is referring to, he explains the details of a nuclear reaction.

Heisenberg re-enters the discussion, now set in the afterlife. The audience learns about the beliefs held in the 1940s regarding the immense challenges of creating a nuclear bomb. The act concludes with the men sifting through their memories, trying to piece together what was actually said during their meeting and the reasons behind Heisenberg's visit. Their recollections differ on certain points, leaving no definitive conclusion.

Act 2

In Act 2, the men reminisce about their initial meeting, recalling how they used to walk together to stimulate their thinking and inspire each other's creativity. They discuss the global impact of their discoveries, mentioning other scientists in their field and how their theories of complementarity and uncertainty, along with the "whole Copenhagen Interpretation," were developed. As they recount the evolution of their relationship, Margrethe suggests that perhaps Heisenberg came to Copenhagen in 1941 to recapture the productive and strong bond he once shared with Niels. However, she quickly retracts this suggestion, reminding them that they did not create their theories collaboratively. "You didn’t do any of those things together," she says. She then notes that despite spending much time together, their best work was actually done when they were apart.

The conversation shifts to their metaphors for quantum physics and the challenges in the science's evolving foundation. There were contradictions and disputes among leading physicists regarding the correct approach and calculations for their data. Even Heisenberg and Niels had their disagreements. "You were the Pope and the Holy Office and the Inquisition all rolled into one!" Heisenberg tells Niels, highlighting how Niels often had the final say in quantum physics development at the time. Niels's opinions were highly respected in the scientific community. Yet, both Niels and Heisenberg were baffled by the behavior of quantum physics. Detached electrons didn't always follow the paths predicted by Heisenberg's mathematical models. "It was a fascinating paradox," Niels remarks.

Ultimately, Niels reflects that after three years of collaborative research and hypotheses, they managed to change the world. "Not to exaggerate," Niels says, "but we turned the world inside out!"

As the second act concludes, the three characters return once more to their 1941 meeting. They discuss the various pressures they were experiencing at the time. The conversation shifts back to the atomic bomb. Niels points out to Heisenberg that the reason he failed to create the bomb was because he neglected to solve a crucial mathematical equation. According to Niels, Heisenberg made an incorrect assumption, and solving the equation would have revealed his mistake. Meanwhile, Margrethe notices the men making comments that aren't entirely truthful. She probes deeper into their statements, forcing them to admit the personal motivations behind some of their decisions. She particularly challenges Heisenberg, who tries to portray himself as a victim of the era. “On your hands and knees?” Margrethe questions. “It’s my dear, good, kind husband who’s on his hands and knees! Literally.” She refers to the fact that Niels had to be smuggled out of Denmark to Sweden before the Nazis could capture him and send him to a concentration camp. From Sweden, he moved to England, and eventually to the United States. Heisenberg then admits that he played a role in Niels’s successful escape to Sweden by sending a warning that the Nazis were coming for him.

The play concludes on a philosophical note. The characters remind each other that, in the end, they will all turn to dust, as will their children. Niels notes that no more decisions will need to be made because, eventually, there might be “no more uncertainty, because there’s no more knowledge.” Heisenberg counters by reminding everyone that uncertainty still exists. This statement alludes not only to scientific principles but also to the fact that no one can be certain about what truly transpired during that now-famous 1941 meeting.

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