[1] Kleist first conceived the idea for the play in 1801 after looking at a copper engraving in Heinrich Zschokke's house entitled "Le juge, ou la cruche cassée".

In 1803, challenged over his ability to write comedy, Kleist dictated the first three scenes of the play, though it was not completed until 1806.

Adam tells Licht that he received these wounds when he fell down after getting out of bed this morning and hit his head on the fireplace.

Licht also tells Adam that a judge in a neighboring town has tried to commit suicide after Walter found problems at the court.

When the trial starts, an enraged Marthe accuses Ruprecht of having destroyed a water jug which was intricately painted and had rich family history and because of that had a large emotional value to her.

When it is Ruprecht's turn to testify, he explains that he secretly went to Eve's home and heard her talk with somebody in her room.

In 1944 it was produced as a film in Mexico by the German director Alfredo B. Crevenna under the title Adam, Eve and the Devil.

[4] In 1958, the Stratford Festival produced an adaptation by Donald Harron and directed by Michael Langham which toured in Canada and to the Phoenix Theatre in New York.

[8] In Indonesia, Studiklub Teater Bandung (STB) produced adaption by Suyatna Anirun with Indonesian title "Jambangan yang Pecah" in 1982.