In this blog post, we explore how the concept of “world literature” (Weltliteratur), as revealed through a hypothetical interview with Goethe, and the diversity of form and content inherent in ‘Faust’ offer insights into today’s cultural exchange and reader engagement. Greetings and First Impressions Johann Wolfgang von Goethe_ Hello, Sir. I am delighted and truly honored to...
Why Did Jhering’s ‘The Struggle for Rights’ Shake Up Legal Scholarship?
In this blog post, we examine Jhering’s life and legal philosophy, focusing in particular on how the “interest theory” of rights and the concept of “legitimate struggle”—as articulated in his pamphlet ‘The Struggle for Rights’—had a profound impact on 19th-century civil law and legal thought. Jhering and His Influence Few figures in 19th-century German jurisprudence have had as...
How does Blangé reveal the “banality of evil” and the problem of justice in Alexander Kluge’s ‘Resumes’?
In this blog post, I aim to examine the origins of evil and the contradictions of punishment under positive law through the story of Blangé in Alexander Kluge’s ‘Resumes’. The Problem of Evil and Justice Alexander Kluge’s ‘Resumes’ primarily deals with the lives of numerous individuals before and after World War II. The work encompasses extremely weighty themes such...
Schiller’s ‘Wilhelm Tell’ — Resistance for Freedom, and the Issue of Revolution and Violence
In this blog post, we will examine the political and aesthetic significance of Schiller’s ‘Wilhelm Tell’, as well as the issues of resistance and violence. Introduction On March 17, 1804, Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller’s (1759–1805) ‘Wilhelm Tell’ was first staged at the Weimar Court Theater. Directed by Goethe himself, the performance lasted over five...
How Far Do the Advancement of Science and the Responsibilities of Scientists Extend?
In this blog post, we will examine the advancement of science, the responsibilities of scientists, and the ethical implications of science and technology through Heisenberg’s ‘The Part and the Whole’. Modern atomic physics is not only a cutting-edge field of science but also raises various issues that transcend the realm of science, such as philosophy, religion, and politics...
Hermann Hesse’s Life and Literature as Seen Through Autobiographical Elements and Major Works
In this blog post, we will focus on Hermann Hesse’s life and works to examine the autobiographical elements deeply embedded in his writing and how his major works are interconnected. Strictly speaking, regardless of the genre to which a work belongs, it is impossible to conceive of a literary work that is not ultimately the author’s own story. Although a novel is defined as a plausible...
The Life and Literary World of Hermann Hesse: The Significance of the Novel “Gertrud”
In this blog post, we will provide a chronological overview of Hermann Hesse’s life and literary world, and examine in particular the significance of “Gertrud,” which is considered his most novelistic work. The Life of Hermann Hesse Early Life Hermann Hesse was born on July 2, 1877, in Calw, a small town nestled in the mountain valleys of southern Germany. Calw is a sleepy, quiet rural...
Who Is Rilke, the Master of Modern Literary Art?
In this blog post, we’ll explore Rainer Maria Rilke’s life and literary career, as well as provide commentary on his major works, organized chronologically and by title. Rilke’s Life and Literature Rainer Maria Rilke was born on December 4, 1875, in Prague. At the time, Prague was the center of German-ruled Bohemia, and Rilke’s family experienced an early rift due to the personality...
Hermann Hesse’s ‘The Glass Bead Game’—Background and Intellectual Significance
In this blog post, I will examine Hermann Hesse’s ‘The Glass Bead Game’, focusing on the background of its creation, its key ideas, and the questions it poses to modern society. The Work’s Origins and Historical Context Hermann Hesse began writing ‘The Glass Bead Game’ in 1931 and completed it in 1942. He started writing it just as the clouds of war began to gather...
How did the pact between Faust and Mephistopheles lead to Gretchen’s tragedy?
In this blog post, we’ll take a close look at the narrative of human salvation and downfall as depicted by Goethe through the conflict between Faust and Mephistopheles, Gretchen’s tragic fate, and key scenes from Part One. Main Characters Part I: Faust is a legendary 16th-century magician and scholar who ceaselessly explores the meaning of life. In Part I, he experiences despair over the...