Goethe and Romanticism

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Goethe and Romanticism

Goethe, as per the traditional German assessment, was more of a classical author, than a Romantic author. In the words of Smith (2009), “to students of German literature, it is so obvious that Goethe was un-romantic and anti-Romantic that they seldom bother to say so” (71). As per this viewpoint, his works are seen as having been influenced by diverse literary movements, i.e. Weimar Classicism and Storm and Stress. This is a viewpoint that ought to be questioned – particularly after placing his works and writings in the Romantic Movement context. This discussion argues that undeniable parallels exist between the Romanticism credo and Goethe’s works and ideology. In so doing, references will be made to Goethe’s best known works which include, but are not limited to, The Sorrows of Young Werther.

Admittedly, the debate pitting classicism against Romanticism in Goethe’s works may have been inspired (at least partly) by Goethe himself. According to Richards (2002), Goethe once made a statement to the effect that: “the classical I call healthy and the Romantic sick… Most of the new poetry is not Romantic because it is new, but because it is weak, sickly, and ill, and the old is not classical because it is old, but because it is strong, fresh, cheerful, and healthy” (458). This is essentially aesthetic dualism whereby the Romantic and Classical appear to be distinguished – with the former being representative of maturity, formality, as well as order; and the latter appearing to represent that which is immature, mystical, as well as formless.

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As Richards (2002) further points out, the statement, at first instance, appears to be overly critical of Romanticism. However, in the author’s own words, at the time “Goethe was reacting to Romantic literature in France after the turn of the century, not to the literature of the early Romantic movement in Germany” (458).

With his writings having been variously referred to as classical, Goethe is widely considered as one of the most dominant literary figures in German-speaking countries. From a broader perspective, he ought to be seen as the Romantic Movement representative – particularly from the broader European perspective. His involvement with Romanticism in literature is apparent from the onset. This is more so the case given his relations with Friedrich von Schlegel and August Wilhelm von Schlegel who were both Romantic theorists.

It is important to note that regardless of differing viewpoints, Goethe has variously been referred to as a Romantic writer. This is despite the fact that the question of whether or not he was a Romantic writer is likely to remain perennial (Hamilton, 2016, p. 313). However, it should also be noted that Goethe was not keen on being….....

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References

Hamilton, P. (Ed.). (2016). The Oxford Handbook of European Romanticism. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Richards, R.J. (2002). The Romantic Conception of Life: Science and Philosophy in the Age of Goethe. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Smith, N.H. (2009). The Anti?romanticism of Goethe. Renaissance and Modern Studies, 2(1), 69-73.

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