Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Götz von Berlichingen mit der eisernen Hand. Ein Schauspiel [Götz von Berlichingen with the Iron Fist. A Play]
- Alexander Mathäs (University of Oregon)
In 1770, while he was still in Strasbourg, Goethe had already planned to dramatize the Lebensbeschreibung Herrn Goezens von Perlichingen, zugenannt mit der eisernen Hand [Autobiography of Mr. Goez von Berlichingen, so called with the Iron Fist]. He wrote the first version of his play in six weeks in 1771. This version was published posthumously in 1832. The material reveals Goethe's enthusiasm for Shakespeare's larger-than-life characters. It also suited his newly found interest in medieval history, inspired by his friend and mentor Johann Gottfried Herder to whom he showed the play. Goethe had obtained his knowledge of the medieval legal system from J.St. Pütters' Grundriss der
First published 23 October 2005
Citation: Mathäs, Alexander. "Götz von Berlichingen mit der eisernen Hand. Ein Schauspiel [Götz von Berlichingen with the Iron Fist. A Play]". The Literary Encyclopedia. 23 October 2005
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4904, accessed 30 July 2010.]
4904 Götz von Berlichingen mit der eisernen Hand. Ein Schauspiel [Götz von Berlichingen with the Iron Fist. A Play] 3 Short Notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.