Sinn und Gestalt von Goethes ‘Egmont’

by Konrad Schaum

Book cover: Sinn und Gestalt von Goethes ‘Egmont’

Extent: 165 pages

Publisher: Universitätsverlag Winter

Subjects: German Studies, Literary Studies

Series: Beitrage zur neueren Literaturgeschichte

Series volume number: 313

Language: German

Hardback (Published)

(January 2013)

ISBN: 9783825361303

5.28 x 8.27 inches

Price: $36.00

In stock

As a living witness to most of the consequential global events of his time, Goethe had reached conclusions and gained insights that moved him to portray the “physical and moral phenomenon” of this major turning point in the history of nations not only in the form of the story of the model hero. The circumstances of an autonomous people whose “safely anchored status could not persist in the face of harsh and calculated despotism” appeared to him “most dramatic”. Taking the example of the “humane chivalrous greatness” of this responsible and self-sacrificing representative of an organically grown society, Goethe not only demonstrates the true value of socio-political principles in the realization of peace and freedom, but also the principles of a higher ontological reality desired by all. German text.


English summary: As a living witness to most of the consequential global events of his time, Goethe had reached conclusions and gained insights that moved him to portray the “physical and moral phenomenon” of this major turning point in the history of nations not only in the form of the story of the model hero. The circumstances of an autonomous people whose “safely anchored status could not persist in the face of harsh and calculated despotism” appeared to him “most dramatic”. Taking the example of the “humane chivalrous greatness” of this responsible and self-sacrificing representative of an organically grown society, Goethe not only demonstrates the true value of socio-political principles in the realization of peace and freedom, but also the principles of a higher ontological reality desired by all. German description: Als lebendiger Zeuge der grossten Weltereignisse seiner Epoche war Goethe zu Resultaten und Einsichten gelangt, die ihn bewegten, das “physisch-sittliche Phanomen” dieses bedeutenden Wendepunkts der Staatengeschichte nicht allein im Schicksal eines idealen Helden zur Darstellung zu bringen. “Hochst dramatisch” waren ihm die Situationen eines eigenstandigen Volkes erschienen, deren ,,festgegrundete Umstande sich vor strenger, gut berechneter Despotie nicht halten” konnten. Am Beispiel der “menschlich ritterlichen Grosse” des verantwortungsvollen und opferwilligen Reprasentanten dieser naturlich gewachsenen Gesellschaft macht Goethe in der Verwirklichung von Frieden und Freiheit nicht allein die wahren Werte politisch-sozialer Daseinsprinzipien bewusst, sondern auch die Gesetzmassigkeit einer hoheren Seinswirklichkeit, die dem Wunsch aller entsprechen wurde.

  • By (author) Konrad Schaum