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 92
... vision of antiquity that was opened up only in the late eighteenth century through the insights of Winckelmann . Just as in a later stage of his development Goethe describes both a strange affinity to the classical sculpture he viewed ...
... vision of antiquity that was opened up only in the late eighteenth century through the insights of Winckelmann . Just as in a later stage of his development Goethe describes both a strange affinity to the classical sculpture he viewed ...
Page 226
... vision which turns a deficiency into a fruitful experience , that transforms negativity into creativity . Even in his last moments on earth , in his struggle with Sorge , Faust feels : So sind am härtsten wir gequält , Im Reichtum ...
... vision which turns a deficiency into a fruitful experience , that transforms negativity into creativity . Even in his last moments on earth , in his struggle with Sorge , Faust feels : So sind am härtsten wir gequält , Im Reichtum ...
Page 227
... vision of the completed self . Sorge is overcome in a vision of the future . The final test of Faust's love of creation is the acceptance of his own death as part of the on - going perfection both of humanity and of Being . Human ...
... vision of the completed self . Sorge is overcome in a vision of the future . The final test of Faust's love of creation is the acceptance of his own death as part of the on - going perfection both of humanity and of Being . Human ...
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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