Dora Brandes (1916)

Dora Brandes is a celebrated actress. Ever since the journalist Gustave Calvi, a man with political ambitions, became her lover, she has increasingly set aside her career as an artist and devoted herself entirely to advancing his career. Dora gets Calvi the financial backing his political career urgently needs from a former lover. With Dora’s help, Calvi eventually succeeds in becoming a member of parliament. Now that he has reached the provisional goal of his dreams, Calvi learns from the former lover and breaks things off with Dora, leaving her alone. Shocked by his betrayal of her trust and love, Dora begins drinking and experiences a steady social decline. Several years later, Calvi sees an opportunity to become a minister as well. But his enemies have long been plotting his downfall. Then Dora Brandes returns to Calvi’s life and obtains the documents he needs to secure his rise. Since Dora, because of her “past”—her drinking and the social decline that comes with it—is no longer a suitable, acceptable life partner for Calvi, she decides to take her own life and walks into the water.