Images of Identity: Goethe and the Problem of Self-conception in the Nineteenth CenturyThe word «Bildung» - variously defined as «education» or «self-formation» - came into popular usage in western Europe through the terminological revolution of the late eighteenth century. No single individual was more influential in giving his own definition to this key word than was Goethe. Through an analysis of Goethe's use of the term in the Bildungsroman Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre, Goethe's autobiography, Dichtung und Wahrheit, and the much neglected text Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre, Sax shows how «Bildung» was more than a process of self-formation, for it included an understanding of the relation of the individual to society, to history, and through the interpretation of symbols, to a transcendent level of meaning as well. It is Sax's purpose to place Goethe's notion of «Bildung» within the context of the history of Western self-conceptions since the Renaissance. |
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Page 143
... lead to new growth . For his part , Meister , always ready to help those in spiritual distress , devotes himself to helping Lenardo find this woman . Unbeknownst to either of them at the time , this journey leads them to finding a ...
... lead to new growth . For his part , Meister , always ready to help those in spiritual distress , devotes himself to helping Lenardo find this woman . Unbeknownst to either of them at the time , this journey leads them to finding a ...
Page 218
... leads Faust out of the study and if it is love which leads him to appropriate various worlds , then it is a combination of these two which leads him to continual striving . Striving is not an arbitrary movement of the will , for it is ...
... leads Faust out of the study and if it is love which leads him to appropriate various worlds , then it is a combination of these two which leads him to continual striving . Striving is not an arbitrary movement of the will , for it is ...
Page 234
... lead to increased creativity , and although creativity necessarily leads to temporal limitations , it also leads to responsibility for the whole . In his final earthly moments Faust repudiates his tie to the devil . Renouncing his ...
... lead to increased creativity , and although creativity necessarily leads to temporal limitations , it also leads to responsibility for the whole . In his final earthly moments Faust repudiates his tie to the devil . Renouncing his ...
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Common terms and phrases
able acceptance achieved action active Anschauung appearances attempts beautiful become begins Bildung called comes complete comprehend condition continues creation creative criticism cultural definition desire Dichtung direct drama dream earlier enjoyment entire eternal existence experience expression eyes fate Faust feelings final forces fully gives Goethe Goethe's harmony Helena higher historical human idea ideal identity impressions individual infinite inner interpretation Italy knowledge language leads learned Lehrjahre limitations living longing meaning Meister move movement nature never novel object once organ original particular past perceive perception personality possess present problems provides pure question reality realize recognizes reflection relation remains revealed scene seems sense social society specific spiritual stage striving structure symbolic temporal things thought tradition true truth turn ultimate understanding unity universal various viewing vision Wanderjahre Werther whole Wilhelm young