Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Personal

Vocation

Notable

Traits

Family

Germany's most famous writer, a great literary genius of imagination and versatility who was unsurpassed as a poet and whose name is entered in the pages of history as one of the world's great thinkers. He was the first-born child and only son of Johann Kaspar Goethe, a serious-natured man who had studied law and held the administrative post of imperial councilor. Goethe's mother, Katharina Elisabeth Textor, was the daughter of the mayor of Frankfurt, and in contrast to her husband, was lively, perceptive and full of fantasy. Goethe was tutored at home and became accomplished in music, art and six languages by the time he left home for Leipzig University and law school in 1765. Among his most important early literary experiences from his family influence were the Bible, Homer, and Klopstock's "Messiah." He fell seriously ill in 1768, returned home and was influenced by his mother's devout friend, who was to have central influence on his spiritual growth, recounted in Bk. 6 of "Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre." He also had alchemical studies which later had a bearing on "Faust." He went to Strasbourg in March 1770 to complete his studies in law. His 18 months there represented a rapid development of his mind and unfolding of his talent. His many romances and innate poetic nature inspired much of his most significant literary work. He became a lawyer in 1771 until his work was first published in 1773. Rebuffed in a romantic pursuit while working in the imperial law court, Goethe wrote "Die Leiden des Jungen Werthers," 1774, in which the sensitive young hero commits suicide. This book caused a sensation, becoming legendary for the many suicides it caused among the sensitive young. By 1775, Goethe was famed and invited by the Duke of Saxe-Weimer to join his court. Goethe only intended to stay a few months, but remained there the rest of his life. At Weimar Goethe was able to hold an established and central place, both as creative artist and as man of affairs, in an enclosed, self-sufficient world. He became the chief minister of state, inspecting mines and issuing military uniforms. Except for two journeys to Italy, Goethe lived at Weimar, where he wrote masterpieces, managed the theater, and studied science. He founded morphology and his work on plants preceded Darwin's. He began his close association with Friedrich Schiller in 1794 until Schiller's death in 1805. Together, they set out to endow German literature with a seriousness of purpose and classical stature that it had not known before. It took 60 years for him to complete his masterpiece, "Faust," completing the second part of "Faust" the year before he died. He became known as a man of remarkable range and the most fully documented creative artist. Best known as a man of letters, he also had a distinct talent for drawing, was interested in acting, and became a successful theater director. His knowledge of antique art was comprehensive; in science he concerned himself with biology, optics and mineralogy. His practical pursuits extended to mining, economics, architecture, horticulture, and landscape gardening. Goethe had many love affairs until age 39 when he met Christiane Vulpius, a worker in an artificial-flower factory. She loved the theater, dancing, clothes, wine, and Goethe. He called her his "force of nature." She moved in with him and stayed until the end of her life. She bore five children of whom only one survived; August (1789-1830). Goethe believed that Christiane saved their lives by interceding during a break-in of their house by marauding French soldiers during the Napoleonic wars, 1806. In gratitude and admiration, he made their liaison legitimate by marrying her a few days later. However, his marriage did not deter his yearnings for other women with whom he had many affairs. Christiane died in 1816. When Goethe was 74, he proposed to a girl in her late teens who turned him down, inspiring another literary work. Upon his death he was surrounded by family and friends. His daughter-in-law, Ottilie, held his hand until his energy was spent. He died on a few minutes before noon on 3/22/1832, Weimar, Germany. He was buried beside Schiller in the Princes' Vault, Weimar. Link to Wikipedia biography