ANCIENT&
not so ancient
WISDOM
offering a weekly positive perspective
December
30, 2004
Nothing
shows a person's character more than what he laughs at.
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
Johann
Wolfgang von Goethe was born on August 28,1749 in Frankfurt.
He describes his happy and sheltered childhood in his
autobiography, Dichtung und Wahrheit (1811–33).
From
1765 to 1771 he studied law in Leibzig and Strasbourg on
request of his father. His student activities contributed to
a hemorrhage that required a long convalescence at
Frankfurt.
His
earliest lyric poems, written while in school, and set to
music, were published in 1769 and earned him a great deal of
recognition. In 1770–71, he completed his law studies at
Strasbourg. His acquaintance with Herder, J. J. Rousseau,
and Spinoza filled him with enthusiasm for Shakespeare,
Germany’s medieval past, German folk song, and appealed to
his mystic and poetic feeling for nature. During this time,
began his lifelong study of animals, plants, and biological
morphology. Goethe also dabbled in painting and the science
of color (Farbenlehre).
He
returned to Frankfurt where he practiced law and worked on
his poems and writing. In 1773, the Götz von Berlichingen
mit der eisenen Hand was published, making Goethe a main
representative for the Sturm und Drang movement. With all of
the attention by the literature world, Goethe was invited to
Weimar to serve in different political offices.
During1792,
Goethe accompanied Duke Charles Augustus as his official
historian in the allied campaign against revolutionary
France. A reformer in his own small state, Goethe
appreciated the principles of the French Revolution. He
wished to see social change accomplished above all, but
resented the methods employed. He likewise refused to share
in the patriotic fervor that swept Germany during the
Napoleonic Wars.
In
1794, he and Friedrich Schiller developed a new style of
writing, which is known as it's own literature epoch, the
Weimarer Klassik.
Women had a great influence on Goethe’s life. He married
(1806) Christiane Vulpius (1765–1816), who had borne him a
son. After her death, his unsuccessful marriage offer in 1822 to young Ulrike
von Levetzow and friendship to Marianne von Willemer
inspired many of his poems.
Goethe
coined the term Weltliteratur and spoke Greek, Latin,
French, English and Italian. Aside from its quality, the
sheer volume of work during his 82-year lifetime is immense.
Goethe wrote a worldwide, best-selling novel (Die Leiden des
Jungen Werthers, 1774), volumes of poetry, and several
dramas, including his most famous work and his masterpiece:
Faust — a massive two-volume work that was not entirely
finished by the time of his death. The most recent complete
edition is the so-called Weimar edition (133 vol. in 140,
1887–1919).
Many
of his biographers have tried to demystify the legend and
shed understanding on the man by questioning everything
about his life, but no one can dispute Goethe's impact on
literature. Goethe’s aim was to make his life a concrete
example of the full range of human potential, and he
succeeded as few others did.
For
me, this has been an interesting year and I have gained many
opportunities to develop my character. I am working on
shortening the time from a difficult incident to laughter.
Wishing
you great success for the coming New Year. Dream, plan, and
desire all that you wish to contribute in life.
Sincerely,
|
