Goethes work helped create the soil from which we plant and harvest.

He is among the most prominent causes of the German freedom. Herman Grimm

No other individual has left a comparable positive impression on German culture than Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. As a native German, I could not imagine a Germany without him; his influences are present everywhere. A German elementary student is asked to read and recite some of his most famous poems such as Der Erlknig (The Erlking) or Die Zauberlehrling (Eng.: The Sorcerers Apprentice), a poem which found its popular adaptation in Disneys animated movie Fantasia in 1940. Academic exposure to Goethe continues in High School in which a substantial portion of the German language courses are about Goethes life and works. A German high-school student will probably read two to three of his works during these years. Similarly, English subjects would cover Shakespeare who had a comparable effect on English language and culture as Goethe on German. Rizal, the Philippines national hero, was from his time in Europe and through the study of the German language naturally aware of Goethe. When one considers the life and philosophy of Goethe and Rizal as well as their presence in the publics consciousness, one will find numerous parallels. Both of them valued education highly and studied extensively. They devoted much of their time in the arts even though their professional careers were of a very different nature. Their romantic relationships were often unfulfilling or ended tragically; experiences which have been processed in the novels of both of them. Leonor Rivera and Charlotte Buff thus became immortal through their contribution to Noli Me Tangere and Die Leiden des jungen Werther. An often discussed period of Goethes life is his travels to Italy. His life and studies in Italy taught him new perspectives. Interestingly, Rizal likewise spent time in Europe where he hoped to gain new knowledge and experience. These similarities notwithstanding, a jarring difference can be found in the political state of their respective

countries and the effects on their lives. Even though Germany in Goethes times was often struggling through internal conflicts and wars with France, his own life was free from harm and persecution. As a result, Goethe lived to the remarkable age of 82 whereas Rizal was executed at the early age of 35. One is to wonder what greatness could have been produced if Rizal were allowed to live up to Goethes age. Goethe was born in Frankfurt in 1749. The state of Germany was understandably quite different in those times. Back then, Austria and Germany were combined under one crown in the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire was found in the Middle-Ages and lasted until 1806. Otto I was the first Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire crowned by the Pope in 962. The title was changed to Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation in the 15th and 16th century since its territory shrank to be mostly limited to Germany and Austria itself. Despite its long history however, the Empire never managed to establish a national character and government. The individual sub-territories were autonomous and were headed by princes. The power of the Emperor waned over time and was eventually insufficient to mobilize the Empire against Napoleon. Of special interest for the discussion of Goethe would be the Duchy of Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach where Goethe spent most his life. The Duchy was located in the center of present-day Germany and had a population of 100,000 during Goethes time. Duke Ernst August Konstantin died young and left the duchy to his wife Anna Amalia who ruled the duchy until her son Carl August came of age. Under his rule, Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach was raised to Grand Duchy in 1815. It was Duke Carl August who would invite Goethe to Weimar. On August 28, 1749, Johann Wolfgang Goethe was born to the Lutheran couple Johann Casper Goethe (1710-1782) and Catharina Elisabeth Goethe (1731-1808) in Frankfurt, Germany. Johann Casper Goethe was a lawyer but did not practice as his wealth was sufficient to provide for the family. He was described as educated and interested in many

topics yet strict and demanding when it came to Goethes upbringing and education. Catharina, on the other hand, was a vibrant and social person. She was the daughter of Frankfurts highest judicial official and married to Goethe 38 years old Goethe at the age of 17. She bore him 6 children, out of which only two survived; Cornelia Schlosser was Goethes only surviving sibling. Brother and sister would grow very close to each other and continue communication through letters until her death at age 26 in 1777. Without his sister at first, Goethe studied in a public school from 1756 to 1758 until he and his sister were home-schooled by their father and miscellaneous private tutors. The extensive education included French, English, Latin, Greek, and Italian, natural sciences, religion and arts. Non-academic activities were riding, fencing, dancing and playing the cello. Goethe came into contact with literature and drama at this early age. He would perform puppet shows that he made up by himself or tell his friends fairy tales he created. It was in these years that Goethe came into contact with the Faust myth when he found a book from his fathers vast library of over 2000 volumes. In 1765, 16-years old Goethe went to Leipzig to study law at his fathers request. Leipzig does not follow the same fashion and customs as Frankfurt, and Goethe needed to adapt the new cultural conditions. Goethe preferred lectures about politics to the subjects of law and soon found himself neglecting his actual course. His attention had also been caught by the arts. Through the tutelage of Adam Friedrich Oeser, Goethe learned to evaluate art and do woodcutting and etching. His first romance falls into this period. They ended their relationship after two years. Inspired by these experiences, Goethe wrote numerous poems which completed two volumes of anthologies. However, a sudden illness interrupted his studies. It is suspected that Goethe got infected by tuberculosis and had to recuperate over the following years.

Goethe returned to his home in Frankfurt and spent most of the time studying various topics such as alchemy, mysticism. Through a friend of his mother, he became acquainted with pietism, an uprising denomination of Christianity. Not unexpectedly, he also used this time to write the drama Die Mitschuldigen. After two years of absence from university, Goethe continued his study of law in 1770. He went to Strasbourg instead of Leipzig and completed his course. His dissertation, however, was not accepted for its heretical content but he submitted a thesis and was granted his license in 1771. Goethe also met literary critique Johann Gottfried Herder while he was studying in Strasbourg, and they formed a friendship. From him he learned to appreciate Homer and Shakespeare which greatly affected his future writing. His law office in Frankfurt met with little success, and his father soon suggested that he should start an apprentice in Wetzlar. Goethe obliged and went to Wetzlar. Although he was there to gain experiences in the practice of law, he dedicated most of his time to his private studies of antiquity. Further, he fell in love with Charlotte Buff, the fiance of one of his colleagues. The situation threatened to escalate and Goethe opted to return home instead. The experience affected Goethe immensely and it was not until he wrote down his novel Die jungen Leiden des Werther one and a half years later that he was able to overcome his depression. In the story, the young man Werther falls in love with Lotte, the fiance of one of his new colleagues, but when the love is not reciprocated, Werther takes his own life. The novel, which would become synonymous with the literary period Sturm und Drang (Eng.: Storm and stress), was an instant success throughout Europe and made Goethe a celebrity at the age of 25. Many others felt that the novel spoke directly to them, and whereas Goethe benefited from writing the novel, some of these people found an unintended justification in suicide and ended their own lives. Goethe himself was appalled at the news of the many suicides throughout the country. These suicide incidences led to the banning of the book and

the imitation of the protagonists fashion style in many cities such as Leipzig. The two years after Goethes return from Wetzlar would become his most productive period. This creative phase was interrupted by an invitation by Duke Carl August in 1775. Goethe and August quickly became good friends, and the 18-years old August offered Goethe a position in his government to which Goethe reluctantly agreed. His obligations in court grew continuously, and he held the highest position as Augusts Geheimrat (Eng.: secret council) by 1782. The local aristocrats were doubtful of Goethe who appeared too unrestrained and liberal. Goethe gained more legitimacy when he then promoted to heritable nobility, which would also add von to his family name. Most of his time was devoted to his political career, and only few of his works were produced while working in Weimar. Yet it was also during this period in the service of Duke August that Goethe pursued the sciences, notably geology, mineralogy and osteology. He hoped to advance the states efforts in mining and agriculture through science. Once again after an unsatisfying termination of a love affair, Goethe chose to move away. He embarked on an extensive tour through Italy and finally stayed in Rome for two years. This period in Italy marks an important turning point in Goethes personality and writing. Goethe spoke of his resurrection and felt that he discovered his own self and sexuality. In Rome, he would correspond with various artists and study the architecture and art of antiquity and the renaissance. As a result, his later dramas would resemble the ideals of classical drama and define the new literary period Weimarer Klassik. Soon after his return to Germany, Goethe became involved in a relationship with Christiane Vulpius in 1788. The local aristocrats disapproved of the relationship because of her lowly upbringing. Despite this complication, Goethe enjoyed and continued his relationship with Christiane Vulpius. They would have a son together in 1789; four other children were born but none of them became older than a few days or weeks. In an attempt to legitimize the

relationship, Goethe married her in 1806. Goethes political endeavors mostly focused on cultural and academic developed in the Duchy. Together with Duke Carl Augusts mother Anna Amalia, Goethe made Weimar the cultural center of Germany and convinced most of the eras most influential artists to reside in Weimar. One of those who joined Goethe in Weimar was Friedrich Schiller, a fellow German poet who would become a close friend of Goethe. Any development, however, was impeached by the forthcoming wars in Europe. Germany and France became involved in recurring wars, and the stability of Weimar was compromised. Goethe was sent to the besieged German cities to investigate during the Napoleonic Wars. However, Weimar remained largely unharmed by the wars. Goethes life would then be about to witness several tragedies. His close friend Friedrich Schiller died in 1805. His wife Christiane also died in 1816. Goethe was not present at the burials of both of which and refused to be with his wife during her passing. Goethe also survived the Duke Carl August who died in 1828 and even his own son who died in 1830. His own death came in 1832 when he died at home, probably by heart attack. His last words are said to have been Mehr Licht (Eng.: more light!). His major contributions are his famous plays Faust and Faust 2. The works have been under literary analysis by experts and students since its publication. They have been critically acclaimed for its variety of social and ethical discussions. The protagonist Dr. Faust is unsatisfied with his life. Even though he studies all the arts and sciences, he does not know everything and makes a deal with the devil to finally get all that he wants. Some themes discussed in the works are the ethicality of lies and the potential of promises, especially that of marriage, to be broken, or about good results through evil intentions, among others. Since his death in 1830, the perception of Goethe as a great thinker and poet has changed only slightly. In fact, Goethe has been idolized and admired for most of his life. Most of his works were not meant for the common reader but meant for the intellectual. The few

outstanding works which became popular among all classes were sufficient to cause a mystification of Goethe during his life-times. Impressively, even Napoleon was an admirer of Goethe. They have met on different occasions, and Napoleon suggested that Goethe should write a play for him. None of these meetings resulted in any collaboration. After experiencing a recession in popularity, he became once more stepped into public consciousness in the 1860s through the work of Goethe organizations and the integration of Goethes works into the school curriculum. Around this time, the admiration of Goethe as a poet shifted towards admiration for Goethe as a cultivated person. For instance, the Weimarer Republik, Germanys government from 1918 to 1933, based its ideology on Goethe which can be seen in the reference to Weimar in the title. The national socialist government, on the other hand, did not Goethe in any way since Goethe himself was too metropolitan, humanistic and academic, none of which were qualities advocated in Nazi-Germany. The current government which arose after World War II, again, caused a resurgence of Goethes popularity. Goethe is today as he was then immensely popular in Germany. He is remembered in countless forms which range from street names, imprints on coins to him being the subject of school education and the name giver of the Goethe Institut which promotes the global promotion of German culture and the German language. According to a survey by Forsa in 2011, Goethe is the greatest German who ever lived surpassing both Konrad Adenauer and Albert Einstein.

By Marc Ritz Bibliography: Christiane Vulpius. Wikipedia. Retrieved from: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiane_Vulpius Heiliges Rmisches Reich. sterreich-Lexikon. Retrieved from: http://www.aeiou.at/aeiou.encyclop.h/h365979.htm Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Wikipedia. Retrieved from: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Wolfgang_von_Goethe Steiner, Rudolf. (1973). Goethes Weltanschauung. Retrieved from: http://wn.rsarchive.org/Books/GA006/German/GA006_index.html T-Online. (2011). Goethe ist laut Umfrage der grte Deutsche aller Zeiten. Retrieved from: http://nachrichten.t-online.de/goethe-ist-laut-umfrage-der-groesste-deutsche-allerzeiten/id_49253234/index Werther-Effekt. Wikipedia. Retrieved from: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wertherfieber