In light of the catastrophic experiences of the 20th century, significant modern authors utilize the multifaceted metaphor of the world theater to explore the question of meaning and form in reality. The author of this study focuses on this need for explanation, which draws on a tradition that seems to be primarily associated with a Jewish-Christian understanding of history as a drama of salvation in European literature. Already in antiquity, a millennia-long, tension-filled reception process begins, evidenced in various discourses, providing insights into continuities and discontinuities in the respective views of humanity and history, and showcasing the intriguing dynamics inherent in the metaphor. As a multi-faceted structural model, the world theater does not express a fixed view of history.