The Heartbreak Of Adolescence

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

They say the eyes are windows to the soul but how does one delve deep into the ethos of human civilization? Which medium do we seek out to discover the essence of the moral values, the culture , the traditions , the dogmas , the scientific bent of mind ,the folklore and above all the heritage of a particular race ? This biography is an endeavor to unravel the psyche of European people in the 18th century by peeking into their lives through an exposition of their literature.

Johann Wolfgang Goethe , the multi - faceted legend was a poet, a philosopher, a critic, an evolutionist, a dramatist, a spiritual seeker, a statesman and above all The Lord of German literature. His unconventional writing style radiated with lifelike realism as it mirrored the lives of the folks of that era and encompassed elements of poetry and prose as he rendered a striking dramatization of their triumphs and tribulations, their pain and passion, their joys and sorrows, their truths and their falsities. In the span of his life, he witnessed the French Revolution and the subsequent meteoric rise followed by the fall of Napoleon The Great and his work portrayed the effect of these historical upheavals on the lives of various classes in the social hierarchy. The iconic author, who was also referred to by the title 'Sensex Mirabilis' literally meaning 'the supreme authority or miracle man', was a cult figure and connected with the mass of humanity cutting across barriers of age or social status and was revered by both the masses and the classes. In the words of the renowned philosopher Schelling, " Germany was not orphaned, not impoverished, but spiritually great in all its weaknesses and disintegration so long as Goethe lived." This statement brings to the fact that the distinguished personality rose to a stature such that an individual began to symbolize his very own Fatherland in all its entirety.

The imperialistic backdrop......

Frankfort, Germany in the mid 18th century was a quaint town bustling with the truly bourgeoise intelligentsia who took pride in their opulent lifestyle, tasteful heritage of books, poetry and artistic masterpieces. However, they were known for their impeccable conduct on account of having a disciplined lifestyle and the mentality of frugal rationalists which ensured that their were not spoilt by their riches.The first generation Goethes consisted of Friedrich Georg, a tailor by profession who had a second marriage with a wealthy widow named Cornelia Schelhorn and became the owner of a prosperous inn. The couple had a son christened as Johann Caspar Goethe who was educated to become an illustrious lawyer.He passed out as the alumni of the Imperial Chamber of Justice at Wetzlar in 1738 and hob-nobbed with the self governing elite of Frankfort as he rose to the position of Councilor. A true specimen of the formalist mindset of the German imperialist heirarchical framework, Councilor Goethe married Catherine Elizabeth Textor, a vivacious maiden twenty years younger than him, who was the daughter of the Chief Magistrate of Frankfort in 1748. Their matrimonial bond was strengthened with the birth of their first child Johann Wolfgang Goethe on the 28th of August1749. He was a charming infant and grew to be the legendary poet with an aura of wisdom who influenced generations of Germans with his illustrious life.

Treasures of fantasy color his childhood.....

Johann Wolfgang Goethe was blessed to have a mother who infused her children with her graciously optimistic attitude towards life. She was passionate in her role as a mother and filled his childhood with fairy tales spun by her imagination to kindle his curiosity. She was a gifted story-teller and her son was enraptured by her tales as he engrossed himself in the intrigues of the plot.A daughter Cornelia was born in 1950 and the siblings were emotionally attached to each other. Johann Wolfgang seemed to be under the spell of his sister's affection and warmly reciprocrated her genuine affection and concern for his well-being. The duo spent their childhood exploring the town, enjoying racy dialects and the folklore of the essentially simple inhabitants. They also had the privilege of witnessing the fascinatingly opulent coronation ceremonies steeped in grandeur where the burghers graciously played a part befitting their distinguished position in the social hierachy.

Councilor Goethe renovated his home into a luxurious mansion which radiated class with a collection of the finest paintings and artistic murals. He devoted himself to the education of his children and home tutored his son Johann in legal terminology and the study of languages. He was undaunted in his mission to secure for his son Johann Wolfgang the degree of law and a civil honor in the Frankfort aristrocracy. Johann displayed a keen interest in the works of Latin authors and devoured the 'Metamorphoses' of Ovid. He, however felt an aversion towards Mathematical calculations and formulae.

Making hay while the sun shines....

The Seven Years war broke out between Prussia and Austria whereby different members of the household sided with opposing factions and the boy received his first learning about twin-sided theories. In1759,Frankfort was forcibly captured by a French army of seven thousand soldiers and this development disrupted the serenity in Councilor Goethe's household. The Goethe's' were forced to host Count Comte-de- Thoranc in their plush home and the gates of the house opened to a stream of visitors who interacted with the Count for official business. The tardy Councilor Goethe disdained the intrusion upon his privacy but the young Johann, an enthusiastic ten year old boy, who always made hay while the sun shone learnt a great deal from the interactive opportunities. He was fascinated by the paintings drawn by various artists besides taking a keen interest in the animated experiences of the writers, sculptors and litigants who visited Count Thoranc, a gentleman of a tasteful disposition. The impressionable young Johann who was on the brink of adulthood was now exposed to notable dramatists of the French Theatre and began to appreciate French literature in particular. Mastering French literature and understanding the various nuances of plays became one of his ardent aspirations.

The heartbreak of adolescence.....

Goethe who belonged to the elite class furtively interacted with the children of commoners. This association caused him to be infatuated with Gretchen an attractive maiden who later confessed to have looked upon him as a mere child. This revelation pulled him out of an idealistic state of reveries of love and exposed him to the bitter realities of practical life. The fourteen year old lad was reprimanded for his overtures of friendship towards peers belonging to the lower class and found solace regaining his composure in the lap of nature. This introspection lightened his burden and was often referred to as his communion with the Divine as represented by mystical Nature.He retreated into forests which lifted him from the melancholy solitude of adolescence.

At the threshold of an academic ascent.....

As the time for him to attend University drew near he was filled with a revulsion towards Corpus Juris and the Institutes of the Roman Law which he was forced to digest due to the necessity of respecting the objective mission of his domineering father. Johann, being a dutiful son supressed his intrinsic desire to study humanities in the pursuit of his literary dreams. He succumbed to his paternal obligations which mandated the study of Law and made his sojourn to the Leipsic University as a sixteen year old student in October 1765. He chose courses under the faculty of Philosophy but was dismal about the formal terminology and found the administered Law syllabus disgusting.

The silver lining beneath grey clouds of despair.....

One of the fellow students Clodius who was known for his poetic talent, happened to lay his hands on some of the poetic verses penned down by Goethe and mocked him. He was pushed into a volatile rage and solemnly burned all his existing poetic work at the Leipsic. He wrote to his sister Cornelia on May 11th 1766, the infamous words,

" I search myself and can not find

A spark of worth in me."

This denigration of his poetic talent was probably a blessing in disguise as this led him to an important inference. He realized that his verses lacked a soul as they were based on the viewpoint of others. Johann Wolfgang who rejuvenated himself admiring the wonder of flowering violets, the call of the larks and the melody evinced by a nightingale, now resolved to poetize his own experiences in order to steep his creations with a genuine-lifelike character. It was this new found clarity of thought that gave his future works the notably stark characteristic of being poignant confessions. He fell in love once again with the charming Anna Katherine, the daughter of a wine merchant who stole his heart in the spring of 1766. The delirious love- affair that ensued was fraught with a series of misunderstandings mostly attributed to Goethe's volatile temperament and Annette distanced herself from him. However Goethe,while accepting the blame for this break-up, wrote a one act play titled the 'Lover's Wayward Humor' which was set in a pastoral setting. It spoke of the woes of a maiden madly in love with a wayward youth whose infidelity traumatized her.

Conscious contemplation helps tide over turbulent times....

By 1768, at the age of nineteen ,Goethe finally entered his final year at the Leipsic University with a studious mindset and was greatly influenced by the renowned artist Oeser who headed the Leipsic Art School. This exposure to Oeser's tutelage aroused his interest in painting and infused him with a sensitivity towards Greek simplicity. His thirst for knowledge drew him towards the doctrine of scholars like Herder who batted for originality and a flavor of nationalism in all creative domains. Goethe now discovered his latent artistic sensibilities. By the latter half of 1768, he was traumatized by the fear of contracting tuberculosis and returned home in a frail state.The malady was caused by an imprudent lifestyle with an apathetic attitude towards hygiene and nutrition. He secluded himself from the matters of the world for over a year and a half which was a period of contemplation and introspection at the course of his spiritual progress. He took up occult studies and alchemy at the suggestion of Frauline von Kettenberg, a relative of his mother who was pious and genuine in her affection for Goethe. He felt cured by the mystical potions and used the time expanding his horizons of learning as he perused over great literary works. He poured over the works of Shakespeare, Macpherson's Osssian, the satyrical verses of Voltaire, Gottfried Arnold's " History of the Church and of Heresy", Percy's "Reliques" in addition to quotations of sociologists like Rousseau and poetry in Hebrew especially by the great poet Homer.

National pride germinates at Strassburg in the spring of 1770.....

French prestige was assaulted by the victory of the King of Prussia in the Seven Years War. Goethe sojourned into the French city of Strassburg where he was deeply touched by the harmonious architecture of the Gothic cathedral which was the masterpiece of a German builder and this inculcated in him a sense of national pride. He was so moved by the beauty of the Strassburg cathedral that he penned down his heartfelt admiration in an apt statement, "Architecture is frozen music." He rejected his erstwhile reverence for French literature and artistic expressions of the famed French taste and he vowed to stand tall as an exemplary testament to German dignity. Henceforth, all his letters were written in German.

This patriotic sentiment was emboldened by the teachings of Herder who was an iconic German philosopher,author and a beacon of light for contemporary German youth.Goethe's fertile mind imbibed the reflections of Herder who instilled a sense of pride in the German heritage and admired the cultural richness of the simple ballads and myriad folklore. It was around this time in 1770 that Herder came to Strassburg for an eye operation and Goethe served him selflessly in spite of his irritable disposition. It served as a golden opportunity for Goethe to interact with his idol. Goethe mirrored his love for poetry and studied the the history of the human civilization through Herder's perspective over a period of one and a half years. This led to his maturation as an authentic German literary genius who focussed on originality rather than mere imitation.

Goethe visited the simple folks in the village of Sesenheim to collect their folksongs which were handed down to future generations as a symbol of the German cultural legacy. Goethe was so bewitched by the rustic freshness of this pure unspoiled environment that he once again lost his heart to a beautiful maiden Friederike Brion. The couple got entwined by currents of passion but Goethe eventually extricated himself from the sway of sentiments and bade farewell to his heartbroken comrade. This brings to the fore his natural aversion to a lifelong commitment as his free, radical spirit could not be reined in for any length of time.Perhaps this act of betrayal on his part pervaded his consciousness and the deserted village maid soon came to be his muse in most of his future dramatizations

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Time to make a life rather than make a living....

Goethe's prosperous lineage ensured that he was free of material cares when he returned to Frankfort in August 1771. However , his father emphasized upon his securing the license to practise the Holy Roman Law. Goethe submitted an essay titled De Legislatoribus which did not suffice and so was supplemented by a series of "Positiones Juris" and easily passed the test of a licentiate. Goethe was now referred to as Doctor Goethe by his friends at Frankfort and enjoyed this idyllic phase of his life. His father was finally satisfied and his doting mother showered him with affection. Goethe felt a pang of jealousy when he learned of the impending marriage of his sister to his childhood friend Georg Schlosser. He organised a festival celebrating the life and works of Shakespeare and Herder graced the event as the main dignitary and the guest of honor. He now was consumed with a burning desire to emerge as a playwright by penning down the autobiography of Gotz Von Berlichingen who was a typical seventeenth century robber. Goethe used his unconventional style and potrayed him as a revolutionary commander who challenged the erstwhile social anarchy in a vivid potrayal of the seventeenth century feudal imperialistic heirachy. His work received warm reviews by the intelligentsia but he decided it was not worth publishing as yet. He was intrigued by the subject of Socrates, the Greek philosopher and in 1772- 73 he brought out the 'Wanderer's Stormsong' which was a zestful attempt to overpower the turbulence of a storm which metaphorically symbolised the travails of life.

His Religious Doctrine - Universal Brotherhood....

Goethe whose talent was now beginning to be recognised wrote a series of reviews for a Frankfort journal Gelehrie Azeigen which bring to the fore his understanding that the essence of the Bible is to understand mystical religion as an instrument to delve into tolerance and universal brotherhood. An understanding of the historical era of human evolution made him discover the intrinsic oneness that overshadowed all man-made divergences. Thus Goethe vehemently protested against dogmas and theologies that were manipulated to fuel intolerance and sectional division.

A Romantic Heart that beats for beauty....

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Goethe, being a true romantic at heart, had an eye that appreciated beauty in all creation. He interspersed his work of studying Law at the Imperial Chamber at Wetzlar with the far more gratifying exploration of the local landscape and marvelled at the scenic natural wonders. He fell in love once again to a virtuous, earthy maiden Lotte Buff, cheerfully sharing the daily chores with her as she mothered over her siblings in the lush countryside meadows. As luck would have it , she was betrothed to a lawyer named Kestner with whom Goethe established a friendly relationship based on mutual admiration. On the literary front, early in 1773, he revised "Gottfried Von Berlichingen" presenting it as a dramatized representation of the life- history of the bandit. This self -styled and unconventional potrayal of the protagonist displayed Goethe's disregard for the established norms of script-writing. Hence, Goethe attracted the criticism of erstwhile authors who swore by the conventional rules of writing. On the personal front, Goethe experienced desultory mood swings on account of his sister's marriage to his childhood friend Georg Schlosser. So deep was the bond with his sister Cornelia, that he drifted towards thoughts of suicide as a result of the general feeling of dejection. Goethe was traumatized by the suicide of a youth spurned by his lover that was published in the local newspapers. He also learned of the trials of an unfulfilled marriage experienced by an acquaintance, a charming maiden in Frankfort. The combined effect of these social issues and the undercurrents of emotional upheaval led to Goethe going into a retreat.

The turning point-A cult figure on the German literary landscape arrives....

Goethe withdrew from worldly affairs and just four weeks of poignant seclusion led to the creation of his sensational publication, " The Sufferings Of Young Werther" which appeared in print in February 1774. This book was a rage with the youth and served to express and expel all the pent up emotional baggage out of the writer's system. It instantaneously engaged the masses as it provided an insight into the dilemmas faced by an otherwise worthy youngster whose sentimentalist disposition dragged him into the throes of a depression and an untimely death due to his inability to deal with the trauma of being spurned by his lover. Goethe was criticized by some as they perceived it to be a glorification of suicide but his empathetic approach towards the subject struck a chord with the youth. Goethe, embodying the vivacious , youthful spirit of a twenty-five year old writer, was now a cult -figure and his attire became the new fashion statement. The " Sufferings of Werther" was a spurt of creative energy which communicated that passion and poison were two sides of the same psychic framework. This period was marked by two other plays "Claviago" and "Stella" published in the following year 1775, which are based on the theme of deserted lovers who are doomed on account of manipulative seekers who play with their feelings. The social ethos of the time was intolerant towards any display of emotions and generally crushed the spirit of a weakling who slipped into the arms of a lover.

Goethe breaks free from the shackles of an engagement....

Life went on for Goethe who contributed text and sketches to "Physiological Fragments" a scientific study of human anatomy by "Lavater". By 1775, he was formally engaged to be married to Fraulein Schonemann fondly known as 'Lili', but the pendulum of his heart swung from the ecstacy of love to the grim dismay of having an incompatible partner with a conflicting set of values. The engagement was eventually broken off probably because the unconventionally radical spirit of Goethe which soared freely could not be trapped into the social whirls demanded of a domesticated lover. He felt sapped of his vitality and sought to rejuvenate in the scenic hills of Switzerland. He returned to Frankfort and found an endearing invitation from the Duke of Weimar, Karl August who admired Dr. Goethe for his courage to follow his own heart even if it were at war with the world at large.

A foray into Weimar - The Duke's Feifdom....

Goethe, a mature twenty six years old celebrity, came to Weimar in 1775, which was now in the the reign of Duke Karl August - a ruler of an equanimous temperament whose mission was to make his province an esteemed duchy where literature, art and drama flourished. This was attributed to the presence of distinguished scholars like Seckendorff, Einsiedel , Bertuch, philosophers like Weiland and renowned poets like Knebel in the imperial court. The duke was ecstatic to welcome Goethe and offered him a seat in the Council of State with the title of Privy Councilor and a handsome salary of twelve hundred talers.

Goethe spent the initial years travelling across the duchy in his official capacity as the commissioner of mines and supplemented his work on mineralogy with a study of Botany and human anatomy especially focussed on the evolution of Homosapiens from early man. It was in early 1777 that he began work on " Wilhelm Meister's Theatrical Mission" where theatre was glorified as an instrument for purposeful efforts to uplift mankind from the depths of doom created by life's storms. He got infatuated with a married woman Charlotte Von Stein who was elated to find a devoted companion who looked upon her as a superior being. However, she clarified that their relationship would be strictly platonic and Goethe was tormented by the undercurrents of passion that pushed him into the realms of moodiness. He rejuvenated himself by travelling to the snow covered Swiss Alps where he was often accompanied by his Duke, with the duo bonding over the beauty and bounty of nature.

The meteoric rise to statesmanship....

At the age of twenty nine, within a span of three years since he came to Weimar, Goethe was elevated to the post of the Chief Administator of the duchy and earned the respect of his colleagues for his skilled statesmanship. He patronized the growth of the University of Jena as a prestigious Centre for educational excellence.Thus, a poet who was largely wary of pecuniary affairs and focused on matters of the heart primarily introspecting upon the emotional frontiers of the human psyche now took charge restoring order in the finances of the state. This shift in career had a clarifying effect on his hitherto volatile mind which was vulnerable to riots of emotion. The Jew philosopher Spinoza through his much acclaimed book Ethics, opened Goethe's mind to the nuances of an intellectual understanding of the emotional periphery of the human brain. He now penned down verses like 'Iphigenie' and 'Tasso'.On the 3rd of September 1783, he published "Ilmenau' as a birthday gift to his Duke Karl August which reflected their mutually rewarding relation of trust, admiration and loyalty.The masterpiece is one of the finest poems on friendship in German literature.

Goethe's ascent to the pinnacle of eternal wisdom embracing universal brotherhood was the consequence of choosing the path of active indulgence in the business of living to the fullest a worldly life rather than embarking upon the path of renunciation and seclusion. His writing reflected the personal experiences gathered due to an intercourse with the realities and travails of simple folk interspersed with the histrionics of the contemporary era. He spent a decade in Weimar and earned the reverence of his associates due his multi-faceted genius. However, Goethe felt drained out and disoriented as he could not pinpoint whether his real passion lay in poetry, theatre, scientific research , philosophy or statesmanship. This led him to seek an indefinite leave of absence from his Duke as he furtively ventured out of Weimar. Goethe sought to " iron out the wrinkles that may have formed in his soul" through his journey into Italy.

The spring of creative energy gushes forth......

The awe-inspiring Venetian paintings, Roman Architecture, imperialistic and mystical sculptures gave succor to his impoverished soul . He felt satiated to the core of his being as he conversed with gifted artists like Tischbein and the sculptor Trippel who made the widely acclaimed Apollo- bust of Goethe. He continued to revise all his previous manuscripts namely Iphigene, Tasso, Egmont and got a new edition published in order to arrest the circulation of pirated versions of his work. The gracious Duke extended his leave as he travelled to Sicily. It was here in March 1788 that he was soaked with vitality and felt exuberant in the realisation that his true calling was poetry.Goethe, buoyant with renewed creative energy looked forward to a golden era which symbolized the fruition of his poetic passion. In the spring of 1788, at the age of forty, he sought to revise "Faust" one of his most beautiful and challenging presentation where a fundamentally righteous man is lured into revolting acts of passion and is eventually redeemed of his sins. Goethe now made his journey back to Weimar where he was awaited by the Duke and the Duchess Luise.

Goethe seeks a life partner to share life's triumphs and trials.....

Goethe was back at Weimar on 18th June 1788 and was given substantial leverage in following his heart that now resonated with poetic ambitions and was relieved of his administrative burdens. The iconic author now experienced a vaccum in terms of companionship as his peers gradually failed to understand the crux of his writings and his chain of thought. Even Charlotte Von Stein could not hold his affection as he felt claustrophobic because of her attention seeking and possessive temperament. Goethe was now enraptured by an exquisitely naive twenty-three year old woman Christiane Vulpius whom he met in July 1788. She was gladdened to be worthy of the love of the celebrated royal and lovingly gave of herself to him.They lived in with each other in the spirit of a lifelong commitment and fidelity. Goethe was critical of the sacerdotal norms of the Catholic church and felt that a consensual union between a mutually devoted couple did not need the stamp of societal approval granted by the church. Thus, the man who followed his heart refrained from organising a formal wedding ceremony. Christiane Vulpius gave birth to their son who was christened as August Von Goethe. However, the pangs of securing the reputation of his son led to a subtle change of heart. Goethe realised that his wife and son were targets of social obloquy as his son being born out of wedlock was scorned upon as an illegitimate child. He formalised his bond with Christiane Vulpius with a solemn marriage ceremony held almost two decades after their union . Goethe's endearing mother spoke highly of the genuine devotion of the gracious Christiane towards her husband.

On Goethe's Philosophy and Political Ideology.....

Goethe now immersed himself in the completion of the fragmented version of Faust and Tasso. The mainstay of his philosophy is that sensitive people who are prone to emotional outbursts can either fall prey to adverse circumstances or wriggle out their comfort zone on the merit of channelizing their creative energy into productive efforts.The French Revolution of 1789 which consolidated into a struggle of liberty against feudal aristocracy was at conflict with Goethe's ideas of governance.Goethe affirmed the reign of a selfless ruler who would lead the masses into an idealistic Utopian life. The thought of divesting political authority into to the hands of the polity did not align with his mindset. He dutifully accompanied Duke Karl August of Weimar who was an ally of the Prussian king as they invaded France and was conscious of the birth of a new historical era in the European political framework.Meanwhile, Goethe became the director of a ducal theatre established in 1791 with the objective of presenting theatrical interpretations of contemporary issues in the societal and political arenas.

A casual interaction blossoms into a cherished frienship with Friedrich Schiller.....

Goethe flowed along the course of the river of his life as it meandered into the pathways etched out by the renowned poet and author Friedrich Schiller in the summer of 1794. A discussion on a scientific paper in the University of Jena led to an exchange of ideas and eventually in August 1794 , Schiller invited Goethe to contribute to his magazine 'Horen' - a journal on art, culture and literature. This alliance was an opportunity for Goethe to reconnect with the literary world and transformed into a mutually rewarding lifelong friendship. Goethe's contribution to the Horen consisted of the "Roman Elegies"- an account of his discovery of the essence of the Roman Civilisation besides the biography of the Italian goldsmith, sculptor and soldier Cellini, who was a notable figure in the Rennaisance of the sixteenth century.

The literary intercourse with Schiller, led to the revival of Goethe's inclination to complete Wilhelm Meister's tale almost twenty years after its initial conception. The story published in 1796 under the title "Wilhelm Meister's apprenticeship " was an account of the wanderings of a wayward youth and his experiences in the school of life. The maturation of the protangonist as he was chiselled by passionate yearnings could be compared to the transformation of a piece of coal which withstands intense heat and pressure to sparkle into a diamond. The unconventional presentation of the lifestory which encapsulated elements of poetry, philosophy and psychology cast a spell over its readers.

Onward to the goal we go, till we reach the far eternal shore......

Goethe spent a decade of his life conducting optical experiments to understand the theory of Color. He attempted to refute Newton's findings and sought to demystify the process of refraction of light. This futile effort revealed that he lacked rudimentary knowledge of mathematical processes. During this phase he was spurred on to unveil a thread of imaginative thoughts in his work "Elective Affinities" which was a tale of a maid Ottilie who worked in the home of an incompatible couple and the ensuing lust and sexual chemistry led to an illicit affair with the master. Unfortunately, the infant of the couple met with an accident while under Ottilie's supervision, which filled her with remorse. She renounced food and starved unto death, raising pertinent questions about fidelity and the sanctity of the marital bond.

In 1797 on Schiller's pursuance , Goethe felt the time was ripe for the culmination of Faust. Goethe and Schiller in a collaborative effort conceptualised ballads which presented folktales in a lyric form. The narrative Herman and Dorothea published in 1798 , is the story of Hermann, a chaste youth who yearned for a suitable wife and met Dorothea, a maiden who was forced to abandon her home in the aftermath of the French Revolution. The poetization brought out vividly the impact of the epoch-making revolution on the lives of the simple folk. The realism of the author leads us to believe that Goethe now touching fifty was completely weaned away from the mysticism of his youth to the crystal clear transparency of a lifelike potrayal. The Weimar theatre reopened in 1798, and Schiller shifted his residence to Weimar. This further strengthened their bond as literary and theatrical comrades. Schiller's death on 9th May 1805 left Goethe bereaved and grief stricken. To honor the memory of his dear friend, he arranged for the performance of "Schiller's Song of the Bell" in August 1805.

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Goethe flourishes in the Napoleonic Empire.......

Napoleon Bonaparte- the conqueror of the world was voraciously expanding his empire. On the fourteenth of October 1806, the Great battle of Jena began. French soldiers overpowered the Germans and Prussians who retreated accepting defeat. A squad of soldiers plundered into Goethe's stately mansion which also provided security to the reigning Duchess. The daring Christiane Vulpius risked her life and confronted the soldiers bribing them with her silver candlesticks to ensure Goethe's security in those terrifying hours. This gesture of bravery spurred Goethe to legalise their unison with a formal wedding ceremony as an act of justice towards his better half now bestowed with the sanctity and stature of the title Frau Von Goethe.

Napoleon Bonaparte expressly declared that he spared the life of Duke Karl August as a token of appreciation towards the reigning Duchess Luise who held forte in Weimar even in the darkest hours of terror. Karl August non-chalantly acccepted the membership of the Confederation of the Rhine under the overlordship the Great Napoleon. Goethe maintained a dignified silence on these political developments but sent a memorandum to the Emperor seeking imperial endorsement over the continuance of lectures at the University of Jena tenaciously patronised by the author for over thirty years.

Napoleon bestows Goethe with glory, admiration and honour galore......

Napoleon Bonaparte was at the pinnacle of his glorious reign and established unparalleled European supremacy.In October 1808, the emperor called a congregation of princes who swore their allegiance to him at Erfurt and it was here that Goethe joined the delegation from Weimar at the express request of Karl August. Napoleon personally greeted him with the oft quoted phrase " vous êtes un homme" and acknowledged that he had read Werther several times. A ceremonial visit to Weimar led to further conversations and the Emperor implored Goethe to come to Paris, as it suited the needs of a dramatist of his stature. In the same year,Napoleon bestowed upon him the badge of the French Legion of Honor and Goethe now a dignified sixty year old statesman felt humbled and gratified by these showers of admiration from the most powerful Emperor of the era. The year 1808 brought with it great sorrow on the personal front as he was bereaved due to the death of his beloved mother who was a personification of noble virtues.

The Eternal Saga of Faust....

Faust is a theme that besotted Goethe's mind for over six decades of his life and is undoubtedly his masterpiece which outlived its creator. Faust is the tale of an aspiring magician essentially a noble soul who got lured into earthy, carnal pleasures and impregnated a naive maiden.He subsequently deserted her thereby pushing her to the clutches of death. The remorseful Faust then seeks redemption of his sins in lieu of which he enters into a pact by selling his immortal soul to the Devil Mehistopheles. Faust stands to lose his entity to the Devil if the latter can satisfy him with any earthly pleasure to the extant that he desires that time freezes . The whim of seeking perennial pleasure is suicidal as it is against the laws of Nature that time stops moving ahead and the enjoyment is eternal. The devil symbolizes all the vices that are latent in every human being. Faust is eventually redeemed of his sins as he realizes that each moment whether joyous or sorrowful is essentially transitory and marches forward towards his salvation into the heaven of freedom which symbolizes his final destination. Thus his wisdom and self- control in tempting situations make a bridge by which he outwitted the Devil who symbolized evil characteristics.

This mind blowing narrative spun around magical potions depicts Goethe's view that the essence of a life well lived lies in the degree of unshakable faith with which we continue to unceasingly strive towards attaining our cherished goal. The ideal man would deal with victory and defeat in a spirit of equanimity in the unshakable belief that ultimately light prevails over darkness. The gift of life has to looked upon as a game of chess where intrigued chessmen mastermind their conquest. Life is then a mysterious journey that unfolds before our eyes as we scale newer peaks and descend into the darkest troughs in a spirit of complete surrender to our Maker.The publication of the 'Elective Affinities' and the first part of Faust immensely raised his stature and Goethe was now revered as" "Altmiester- the champion of the literary world.

Goethe pens down his autobiography "From my Life. Poetry and Truth ....

Goethe felt young at sixty and literally walked the talk. He was engrossed in adding final touches to his own autobiography which is a dispassionate account of the realities faced by the author including details of his infatuation and the carnal pleasures he derived from them.The first three parts of Poetry and Truth, each comprising a volume of five books were published in 1811, 1812 and 1814. The narrative is soaked in the nectar of poetry and is a captivating and candid disclosure of the infatuations and the vagaries of his youth. He uses fifty shades of creative imagination to vividly picturize his life story where poetry is the medium that mirrors life making it a one of its kind publication across the literary spectrum.

In 1812, an in-depth study of Persian Literature which began with the translation of the author Hammer-Purgstall's "Diwan" which narrated the story of the "Diwan of Hafiz" made him fantasize about caravans and oasis wearing the shoes of Halem- the Diwan who was smitten by his lover Suleika- a role played by Frau Marriane Willemer, the wife of an elderly Frankfort gentleman. She took to writing romantic verses as she pined for her lover in the mushy Indian Summer.This collection of twelve books was published in 1816 under the title of "West-Eastern Diwan.

The Battle of the Nations - Liberation of his Fatherland....

The Battle of the Nations in which the Allies emerged victorious was an eye - opener as it proved that Napoleon was not invincible. During the campaigns of 1813, the Prussian Army captured Paris, a victory that led to much rejoicing. Goethe paid a tribute to the victorious army that came home by dramatizing his interpretation of the'Intellectual Awakening' of Germany by means of a play " The Awakening Of the Epimenides" which visualised a promising and a glorious future for Germany. Many of his contemporaries alleged that Goethe underestimated German patriotic fervour and was apathetic to the "Wars of Liberation". The truth is in fact that Goethe hated the destruction and the trail of bloodshed and death that is the aftermath of a war, and felt that advantages of countervailing order were incommensurate with the trials of frenzied blood splattered conflict.Thus, Arndt, an indefatigable warrior and one of the staunchest German patriots, acknowledged Goethe's standpoint and affirmed his reverence towards Goethe by addressing him as the 'Lord of German Literature' and " one who towered so high that he stands as a divine miracle. This is Goethe, the poet, not born of time, but on the one hand a symbol of the German past, and on the other a symbol of its future."

Duke Karl August who had broken away from Napoleon, now saw his ascension to the title of "Grand Duke". Weimar , the Duchy was gifted a liberal Constitution by its ruler and was a nursery of political freedom where art, literature and culture were liberalised. Goethe endorsed the reign of nobility in the spirit of justice and righteousness. His beloved wife passed away in June 1816 and he was engulfed in loneliness more because he loved her intensely to core of his soul towards the end of her life. The year 1817 was a year of political upheaval when the counsels of Germany felt threatened by student societies which organised speeches on the liberation of Germany from the clutches of Royalty. In the same year, Duke Karl August who was instigated by a mistress favoured the appearance of a trained dog accompanying an itinerant performer on the sacred stage of the Weimar theatre in spite of opposition by Goethe and this difference of opinion led to Goethe relinquishing his chair as the Director of the theatre.

The final leaps of consolidation and collaborative efforts....

Goethe was now securing the financial future of his family and worked feverishly unmindful of the fact that he had embarked upon the seventh decade of his life. Between 1815 and 1819, the publication of his works by Gotchen in the press of Cotta earned him a handsome sum of 16000 talers. In 1816 Goethe started a journal called Kunst and Alterthum to present an authentic version of his experiences. The indefatigable researcher documented his in- depth analysis in the fields of botany, geology, mineralogy, the theory of color, optics, anatomy.

Goethe worked vigorously,beginning his work at dawn when his mind was fresh, even at the age of 70. He scribbled down verses in his illegible handwriting and dictated notes to his faithful secretary Eckermann. He remained young at heart and his youthful spirit was smitten by captivating beauties. In 1821, Goethe was enticed by the charming and demure fifteen year old Ulrike von Levetzow, a friend of the family and sent her a marriage proposal through the Duke. The prospective bride refused politely and Goethe was pushed into emotional turmoil and had no option but to practice renunciation. This pent up energy was spent in his splendid production "Marienbad Elegy".

And the Legend lives on in the heart of the Future.....

The last decade of his life was devoted to the completion of the saga of Faust. His masterpiece that intrigued him over a span of sixty years, was finally completed in 1831. This immensely satisfied Goethe who considered the remaining years of his life as a bonus from his Creator. He enjoyed good health but was grief-stricken at the untimely death of his only son August Von Goethe on 28th October 1930. Goethe was now cared for by his daughter-in-law and two grandsons. He caught a cold in mid-March 1932 which progressed steadily and the end came on the 22nd of March 1932.

Goethe lives on in the heart of the future generation on account of the eternal relevance of his boundless wisdom. His philosophy focused on dynamism and endorsed the fact that change is the only constant.He advocated a surge of activity in every phase of life. Like Schelling, the philosopher, he believed in and stressed upon the guidance of dreams and intuition. Religion for him symbolized an inner force or Divine Energy with which he could communicate and lighten his heart.This positive energy also manifested itself in the marvels of Nature. Goethe regarded the ascent towards progressive refinement from the roots to the flower in trees as ordained by mother Nature, as the guideline for the spiritual growth in an individual. His communion with the Maker, made him God loving rather than God fearing. Being an artist at heart, he considered the feel of a painting and the vibes that emanate from it, to be far more substantial than its logical interpretation. The three basic tenets of Goethe's beliefs are self- affirmation, self- control and self- surrender that pertain to humanity as a whole and transcend the wheel of time. Goethe's immortality and his eternal presence is best conveyed by his timeless verse that guides our efforts along the journey of life,

Spacious world and life increasing,

Honest effort, never ceasing,

Ever searching, ever grounding,

Never ending, often rounding,

Guarding well the ancient treasure,

Welcoming the new with pleasure,

Pure of purpose, happy - hearted,

Well, - we get our journey started.