“He had drunk only one glass of the wine. Emilia Galotti lay open on his desk” (Goethe 2004). When Werther commits suicide at the end of Goethe’s novel Die Leiden des jungen Werther, Lessing’s play Emilia Galotti lies next to him on his desk. The fact that it is opened, lets the reader assume that Werther had read the book, perhaps just moments before his suicide. It makes it seem of importance to Werther and it might have been relevant for his decision to commit suicide. But that is just one assumption which can be made. For the reader, it is interesting to know what Goethe wanted to tell us by including Lessing’s work in his novel. It does not seem much of a coincidence that Lessing’s work appears at the most important scene of the novel. This leads to the question this essay is concerned with. What is the relevance of Lessing’s play for Goethe’s novel? Did Lessing’s play influence Goethe or is he actually criticizing Lessing by including the play in his novel? And going even further: What is the relevance of the play for the state of mind of Storm and Stress writers/artists in general? There are several possible assumptions to those two questions so some of them will be presented and analysed in this essay although not all of them can be covered.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Relevance for Die Leiden des jungen Werther
3. Relevance for the state of mind of Storm and Stress writers/artists
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the literary and psychological significance of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing's play Emilia Galotti, specifically examining its intentional placement in the final moments of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Die Leiden des jungen Werther and its broader influence on the Storm and Stress movement.
- The intertextual connection between the suicides of Werther and Emilia Galotti.
- Goethe's potential critique or emulation of Lessing's work.
- The role of Emilia Galotti as a catalyst for themes prevalent in the Storm and Stress era.
- The tension between Enlightenment ideals and the rebellious spirit of the Storm and Stress movement.
- The significance of bourgeois tragedy as a medium for social commentary.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
“He had drunk only one glass of the wine. Emilia Galotti lay open on his desk” (Goethe 2004: 203). When Werther commits suicide at the end of Goethe’s novel Die Leiden des jungen Werther, Lessing’s play Emilia Galotti lies next to him on his desk. The fact that it is opened, lets the reader assume that Werther had read the book, perhaps just moments before his suicide. It makes it seem of importance to Werther and it might have been relevant for his decision to commit suicide. But that is just one assumption which can be made. For the reader, it is interesting to know what Goethe wanted to tell us by including Lessing’s work in his novel. It does not seem much of a coincidence that Lessing’s work appears at the most important scene of the novel. This leads to the question this essay is concerned with. What is the relevance of Lessing’s play for Goethe’s novel? Did Lessing’s play influence Goethe or is he actually criticizing Lessing by including the play in his novel? And going even further: What is the relevance of the play for the state of mind of Storm and Stress writers/artists in general? There are several possible assumptions to those two questions so some of them will be presented and analysed in this essay although not all of them can be covered.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the core research question regarding the presence of Lessing's Emilia Galotti in Goethe's Die Leiden des jungen Werther and sets the stage for exploring its influence on the Storm and Stress era.
2. Relevance for Die Leiden des jungen Werther: This chapter analyzes various interpretations of why Werther possessed the play at the time of his death, discussing parallels between the two protagonists and Goethe's potential motives for this literary reference.
3. Relevance for the state of mind of Storm and Stress writers/artists: This chapter examines how Emilia Galotti served as a revolutionary bourgeois tragedy that resonated with the rebellious spirit and thematic interests of the Storm and Stress movement.
4. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the arguments, concluding that the play was both a significant source of inspiration for contemporaries and a purposeful device in Goethe’s novel to characterize his protagonist.
Keywords
Emilia Galotti, Die Leiden des jungen Werther, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Storm and Stress, Sturm und Drang, Enlightenment, Bourgeois Tragedy, Suicide, Intertextuality, Literary Influence, Rebellion, German Literature, 18th Century Literature, Character Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this essay?
The essay investigates the literary relevance and psychological implications of including Lessing’s play Emilia Galotti in the final scenes of Goethe’s Die Leiden des jungen Werther.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
The central themes include the interpretation of suicide in literature, the relationship between Enlightenment and the Storm and Stress era, and the influence of bourgeois tragedy on individual agency.
What is the research goal of this work?
The goal is to determine whether Goethe included the play in his novel as a sign of admiration, a critique of Lessing, or to provide deeper psychological context for Werther’s final actions.
Which scientific approach does the author use?
The author uses a literary analysis approach, drawing upon secondary academic sources and textual evidence from both the novel and the play to evaluate intertextual connections.
What topics are covered in the main body of the essay?
The main body evaluates specific critical theories regarding Werther's suicide, compares the character motivations of Werther and Emilia, and explores how the play’s themes resonated with the Storm and Stress generation.
Which terms characterize this academic work?
Key terms include Emilia Galotti, Die Leiden des jungen Werther, Storm and Stress, intertextuality, bourgeois tragedy, and the historical tension between the Enlightenment and the Sturm und Drang period.
Did Goethe potentially criticize Lessing through his novel?
Yes, some critics suggest that Goethe may have been distancing himself from certain Enlightenment ideals held by Lessing, using the presence of the book as a subtle medium for this criticism.
How does the author connect the suicide of the protagonists?
The author points out that both works share a tragic outcome where the protagonist feels immense guilt, and notes how the act of suicide in Emilia Galotti serves as a precedent for the desperate situation Werther finds himself in.
Why is Emilia Galotti considered a "wellspring" for Storm and Stress writers?
It introduced bourgeois society into tragedy and addressed themes like marriage, abduction, and individual rebellion, which were central to the sensibilities of the young Storm and Stress generation.
What is the final verdict regarding the influence of the play?
The author concludes that while it is hard to definitively state Goethe's exact intent, the play clearly acted as an important role model and thematic touchstone for both Goethe and other writers of the Storm and Stress movement.
- Quote paper
- Julia Straub (Author), 2018, Relevance of Lessing's "Emilia Galotti" for Goethe's "Die Leiden des jungen Werther" and the state of mind of Storm and Stress writers, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/464331
