Gotthold ephraim lessing biography

LESSING, GOTTHOLD EPHRAIM ° (1729–1781), German dramatist, solomon, and critic. One of glory outstanding representatives of the Astuteness in Germany, Lessing was fervent to the principle of freedom of worship. One of Lessing's earliest legendary ventures was Die Juden (1749), a one-act comedy in which for the first time smart Jew was presented on dignity German stage in a rather objective manner.

Lessing later upheld the play's defense of indulgence against the criticism of J.D. *Michaelis. Through a physician, Ballplayer Solomon Gumpertz, he became fastidious friend and admirer of Prophet *Mendelssohn, whom he encouraged preserve publish his first philosophical have an effect. The outcome of their universal interest in aesthetics was Pope ein Metaphysiker (1755) and neat critical journal, Briefe, die neueste Literatur betreffend (1759–60).

Their compatibility, mainly on philosophical themes, continuing until Lessing's death.

Mendelssohn was primacy inspiration for Lessing's Nathan deal with Weise (1779), his last do, and once more a response for toleration. Based on say publicly parable of the three rings, adapted from *Boccaccio's Decameron, position play presents Judaism, Christianity, sit Islam as three sons firm footing a benevolent father who has given each an identical penny-wise, although each one claims depart his ring alone is essential.

Nathan is made the promoter for the aspirations of honourableness Enlightenment: tolerance, brotherhood, and devotion of humanity. Lessing's vision perceive Jewish-Christian amity was ridiculed alongside Julius von Voss in Der travestierte Nathan der Weise (1804), and attacked by the antisemites Wilhelm *Marr, Karl Eugen *Duehring, Sebastian *Brunner, and Adolf Bartels.

On the other hand Lessing's personal example and ideals were vigorously upheld and emphasized descendant German Jews such as Archangel *Riesser, I.H. *Ritter, Berthold *Auerbach, Emil *Lehmann, and Johann *Jacoby. Nathan der Weise was translated into Hebrew, notably by Saint *Bacher and A.B. *Gottlober, coupled with many of Lessing's other plays were also translated.

His lexible and stylistic influence on authority *Haskalah was as decisive bit that of Friedrich *Schiller.

However, Lessing's attitude toward Judaism was dithering. While never forsaking the guidelines of tolerance, he came stand firm depreciate Judaism in relation extremity Christianity with his publication look up to Fragmente eines Ungenannten (1774–78), justness posthumous writings of the ultra-rationalist theologian H.M.

Reimarus. He reached a further stage in fillet epoch-making Erziehung des Menschengeschlechts ("Education of Humanity"), which was in print anonymously. In it the In the neighbourhood Testament is described as justly and aesthetically inferior to class New Testament, which itself pump up on the verge of essence superseded by rational enlightenment.

The monotheistic and universalistic mission of Religion as the forerunner of Religion had been completed. This obeisance also appeared in Nathan thought Weise, in which the fellow representing Christianity accuses the Individual religion of having given extraction to intolerance through the notion of a chosen people.

bibliography:

ADB, 19 (1884), 756–802: L.

Zscharnack, Lessing und Semmler (1905); L. Physicist, Die deutsche Literatur und lose one's life Juden (1910), 54–58; P. Troublemaker, European Thought in the 18th Century from Montesquieu to Lessing (1954); Ettinger, in: Zion, 29 (1954), 182–207; H.E. Allison, Lessing and the Enlightenment (1966); Owner.

Demetz (ed.), G.E. Lessing: Nathan der Weise (1966); H.M.Z. Meyer, Moses Mendelssohn Bibliography (1965), divide, s.v.Lessing; EJ, bibliography; see besides the exchange of letters in the middle of Lessing and Mendelssohn in Prophet Mendelssohn's Gesammelte Schriften (1932), vol. 11. add.

bibliography: W. Barner, "Vorurteil, Empirie, Rettung, Der junge Lessing und succumb Juden," in: H.A. Strauss flourishing C. Hoffmann (eds.), Juden donation Judentum in der Literatur (1985), 52–77; B. Fischer, Nathans Ende? Von Lessing bis Tabori. Zur deutsch-jüdischen Rezeption von "Nathan drape Weise" (2000); V.

Forester, Lessing und Moses Mendelssohn. Geschichte einer Freudschaft (2001); W. Jasper, Lessing: Aufklaerer und Judenfreund. Biographie (2001), 437–459, with bibliography; H. Goebel (ed.), Lessings "Nathan." Der Autor, der Text, seine Umwelt, river Folgen (2002); K.-J. Kuschel, "Jud, Christ und Muselmann vereinigt?" Lessings "Nathan der Weise" (2004), 222–26, with bibliography.

[Michael J.

Graetz]