Jews and Gentiles: Anti-Semitism and Jewish Assimilation in German Literary Life in the Early 19th CenturyDiscusses German writers' antisemitism, as well as defense of Jews and of their emancipation, in the transition period between the Enlightenment and the post-Napoleonic reaction, using as examples the correspondence between the pro-emancipation Wilhelm von Humboldt and his antisemitic wife, Caroline; of the philosemitic Bettine von Arnim with her brother, Clemens Brentano, and her husband, Achim von Arnim, both antisemites; and of Rahel Varnhagen, describing her suffering due to her Jewish identity and her distress at rising antisemitism. Examines Enlightenment drama which portrayed both wicked and noble Jews (but more of the latter). In contrast, popular farces of the early 19th century, especially "Unser Verkehr" by Karl B.A. Sessa and the plays of Julius von Voss, present stereotypes ridiculing the Jews, especially Jewish attempts at assimilation, and also hint at the danger of Jews to society. Relates to the Jewish villains in the novellas and fairy tales of Brentano and von Arnim, who were also founding members of the antisemitic Christlich-deutsche Tischgesellschaft. Discusses, as well, Jewish dramatists' protests against discrimination in plays purportedly dealing with other oppressed minorities. |
Contents
Acknowledgements | 4 |
Definition of Terms | 14 |
Letters and Diaries | 24 |
Copyright | |
5 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Abraham accept According Ahasverus anti-Jewish anti-Semitic appears Arnim asked assimilation attacked attitude baptism became become Berlin Bettine Börne brother caricature Caroline century Christen Christian Church considered conversion daß deals death described deutschen Dorothea Enlightenment equality expressed father feelings figure Frankfurt French Friedrich friends German ghetto gives Goethe Gott habe hand Heine Herz High Humboldt Ibid ideas important individual influenced Jakob Jewish Jewish emancipation Jews Judaism Jude Juden Judengasse lange language later Lessing lets letter literary literature lived means Mendelssohn mentioned Nathan nicht origin particularly play political present quoted Rahel Rahel Varnhagen recht refers rejection religion religious represented Robert Schlegel sich situation social society stage story tolerance Varnhagen Veit Voss Wilhelm writes wrote Zeit