A pioneer, in his early literary life, of “Storm and Stress”[1] literary school, and one of the inventors of Weimar Classism[2], Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s impact was not restricted in Germany or Europe only, but he has his wide vivid influence on the human mind worldwide and throughout ages.
Born in the 28th of August 1749 in Frankfurt, Germany, to a father who was an Imperial Councilor and mother who is 21 years younger than her husband; Johann Wolfgang’s father was keen to teach his son all subjects common in his age, notably languages: English, French, Latin, Italian, Hebrew, Greek. The father, Johann Casper, aimed at raising his children in a noble manner that he taught his son horse riding, fencing, music, fine arts and dancing.[3]
Soon, Goethe was indulged in literature, taking benefit of his father’s library. His literary sense was refined by the writings of Homer, Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock, history works along with the Bible and religious books. He was besotted by puppet shows arranged in his city Frankfurt and he depicted these shows in his works. In general, Goethe had a momentous curiosity about theatre.
Like his father, Johann Wolfgang studied law at Leipzig University from the age of 16 till the age of 19. However, law was not enticing for Goethe, as he was totally taken by his literary passion; hence, he used to attend the poetry lectures of Christian Fürchtegott Gellert rather than attending law lessons. His first love, Anna Katharina Schönkopf, was the muse of his first verse anonymous collection “Annette”, published in 1770. Engrossed in literature, poetry, playwright and love, Goethe’s study of law did not proceed well and he eventually returned to Frankfurt in 1768.
Frustrated by his son’s failure, Goethe’s father was alienated from his son and the latter suffered a severe illness in return. He finally returned to Strasbourg to continue his studies and make up for his setback in April 1770.
Conversely, Goethe was never able to resist the call of literature in his soul. His real discovery of Shakespeare[4] was in Strasbourg through his friendship with Johann Gottfried Herder and this was a turning point in his career.
Another muse for his poems appeared in his life, she was Friederike Brion, who inspired him of his famous and tender love poems like “Welcome and Goodbye” and “Heidenröslein”.
Lastly, Goethe was able to mollify his father and get his degree. Nevertheless, the humanitarian ambition of Goethe, along with his immaturity, led him to end his career of law. At this point, his father was disillusioned, now he realizes that his son is going to be big in something else. From now on, the father is going to support his son in his literary career.
Götz von Berlichingen, a drama, derived from the biography of a highwayman about the Peasant’s War, was written by Goethe and received a great success in 1773.
Goethe reached the peak of his maturity with the release of his epistolary novel “The Sorrows of Young Werther”, a novel that is based on a true frustrated love story of the author and a suicide of a dear friend.
Ironically, the ambition of Goethe’s father for his son to become a prominent and noble figure in the society was fulfilled through a different route other than one he chose for his son. In 1775, Goethe was requested, after the excessive thriving of his work “The Sorrows of Young Werther”, to appear in the court of Karl August, Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, thus, Goethe decided to live in Weimar, where he stayed for the rest of his life and where, over the path of his life, he held a series of bureaus, including administrator of the ducal library, as the Duke’s friend and primary counselor.
After ten years of love and intimate relationship with a married woman, Charlotte von Stein[5], Goethe broke her heart and left for Italy without a notice. His vague and resentful attitude was not totally explained by him, yet some critics conjecture that her marital status affected their relation. However, they were reconciled soon before they break up again.
In Italy, Goethe was acquainted to many artists and writers. He was overwhelmed by the charm and richness of Sicily. For him it was an essential experience in his formation.
Johann Wolfgang Goethe was not the romantic, refined, sensitive poet all the time. At one time he held the sword against French revolutionaries in 1792; in loyalty to his friend Duke Karl August of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Goethe participated in Battle of Valmy.[6]
Another love, another mistress; Christiane Vulpius, Goethe lived calmly with the woman who gave him children till the French returned in vengeance and occupied his town and house in 1806. In 1808, Goethe met Napoleon, he wrote about the incident: “I must also note that, in the whole of our conversation, I had admired the variety of his affirmative replies and gestures, because he was rarely immobile when he listened. Sometimes he made a meditative gesture with his head and said: ‘Yes’ or ‘That’s right,’ or something similar; or, if he had stated some idea, he most often added: ‘And what would Monsieur Goethe say to that?”[7]
Contemporary to this defeat, Goethe got married to the mother of his several children, Christiane Vulpius, in a quiet ceremony and spent the rest of her life with her until her death in 1816. He was notably enamored by her motherhood.
At the age of 74, the romantic Goethe fell in love again with a teenager, Ulrike von Levetzow[8]. An impossible love that stirred his extraordinary poem “Marienbad Elegy”[9]
During his last days, Goethe’s daughter-in-law, Ottilie von Goethe,[10] took care of him until he died in 1832. His physician, Dr. Carl Vogel, claimed that Goethe’s last words were: “More light”.
[1] https://www.britannica.com/event/Sturm-und-Drang
[2] https://germanic.sas.upenn.edu/people/publications/literature-weimar-classicism
[3] https://www.thoughtco.com/biography-of-johann-wilhelm-von-goethe-german-writer-4800352#:~:text=Goethe%E2%80%99s%20education%20was%20dictated%20by%20his%20father%20and,before%20settling%20down%20to%20a%20quietly%20prosperous%20life.
[4] https://www.pro-europa.eu/europe/axson-stockton-goethe-and-shakespeare/4/
[5] https://www.nndb.com/people/066/000097772/
[6] https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Battle_of_Valmy
[7] https://shannonselin.com/2016/10/napoleon-met-goethe/#:~:text=In%201806%2C%20Napoleon%20conquered%20Prussia.%20French%20troops%20occupied,Goethe%E2%80%99s%20house%3B%20many%20of%20his%20friends%20lost%20everything.
[8] http://arlindo-correia.com/180805.html
[9] https://www.gornahoor.net/?page_id=10213
[10] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8880361/ottilie-von_goethe
