Walter benjamin goethes elective affinities immanuel kant. Goethes elective affinities and the critics boydell and brewer. Pdf the distinction between mythic and divine violence. In early nineteenth century chemistry, the phrase elective. Benjamin s contemporaneous essay goethe s elective affinities is used to elucidate the reasoning behind his view that divine violence provides an escape from myth s forces of totalization. With an introduction and there are many cases, answered she, in which we are obliged, and in which it is the real kindness, rather to write nothing than not to write. Robinson explains why benjamin saw the state as an expression of a fatalistic worldview, what kind of action he believed could destroy oppression, and what this means for the possibilities of diffuse social power. Goethes elective affinities and the end of the old regime lewisburg, pa. Walter benjamins importance as a philosopher and critical theorist can be. It was anticipated with more excitement by readers than any of his other works, and, except for werther and faust, has inspired more investigations as to its meaning, both at the time of its first publication and since.
A primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. Walter benjamin on goethes elective affinities project muse. The term elective affinities is based on the older notion of chemical affinities. Inspired by goethe s own conflicting loyalties as he battled to maintain his relationship with his wife and control his feelings for a younger woman, elective affinities is one of the greatest works of the romance era. There were no bestseller lists in 1809, but it was quickly clear to the german reading public that goethes third novel, elective affinities, which appeared in the fall of that year, was a flop. Buy the elective affinities by johann goethe from amazon s fiction books store. The modern reader will need to slow down to appreciate its somewhat austere beauty. Mar 30, 2009 elective affinities the title refers to the chemical attraction of elements is, above all, an elegant book, with something of the stylized formality of a baroque opera by gluck or one of watteaus paintings of a fete galante. While containing some terrific turns of phrase and a few ruminations about human nature that still ring true, elective affinities is first and foremost a paragon of anachronism. Recent scholarship on benjamin s essay on violence replaces the category and functions of divine violence with an amorphous conception of language. As far as subject genealogy goes, in this branch of chemistry, goethe s elective affinities a theory he had originally developed as early as 1799 was the first book on the subject of human chemistry.
For the modern reader, the term of elective affinities could be understood as a condition, which is open to emotions and romances. Affinities against interpreting a writers work by his life, he did make selective use of the life in. Complete summary of johann goethe s elective affinities. For students of modern criticism and theory, walter benjamins writings have become. Dec 31, 20 in the penultimate essay in his series on walter benjamin, andrew robinson examines the critique of the state in benjamins muchdiscussed critique of violence.
Elective affinities is, of course, the title of goethes classic novel published in 1809, aspects of which john banville adopts for his short yet intense novel, the newton letter 1982. The title is taken from a scientific term once used to describe the tendency of chemical species to combine with certain substances or species in preference to others. Common types of primary sources include works of literature, historical documents, original philosophical writings, and religious texts. Download pdf walter benjamin goethes elective affinities. For the german see benjamin, walter, illuminationen.
William fairburn s human chemistry was the second, thomas dreier s 1948 we human chemicals or, the knack of getting along with everybody was the. Elective affinities a novel oxford worlds classics. Walter benjamin stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Walter benjamin goethes elective affinities immanuel. It depicts human relationships in a romantic crucible, and is the sourcebook and inspiration for many literary and filmic adaptations and variations.
The translation is good but suffers a bit from the awkwardness of german syntax and goethe s very formal style, which can make this. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read elective affinities. Dec 15, 2008 in elective affinities goethe conducts an experiment with the lives of people who are living badly. This study guide consists of approximately 40 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of elective affinities charlotte and edward are a wealthy victorian couple who have been married for a few years. Complete summary of johann goethes elective affinities.
Bucknell university press, 2010 susan sirc, monkeys, monuments and miracles. All texts in this volume are included in walter benjamin. Download walter benjamin goethes elective affinities. Walter benjamin and romanticism explores the relationship between walter benjamins literary and philosophical work and the tradition of german romanticism, as well as h. Charlotte and eduard, aristocracts with little to occupy them, invite ottilie and the captain into their lives.
Goethes work is a landmark both in the history of the novel and relations between science and literature. Goethes elective affinities and the end of the old regime bucknell up, 2010 and of articles on goethe and his age, georg buchner, aby m. Warburg, michael haneke, and the faust tradition in its relation to media history. In berlin, the largest town in germany at the time, there were 126,000, whereas both paris and london had already surpassed 500,000. The sorrow of young werther, first book, august 12 1774. Benjamins contemporaneous essay goethes elective affinities is used to elucidate the reasoning behind his view that divine violence provides an escape from myths forces of totalization. Buy the elective affinities by johann goethe from amazons fiction books store. Dive deep into johann goethes elective affinities with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. Elective affinities is the story of a german upperclass married couple eduard and charlotte who appear to be happily married until they invite charlottes niece and an old friend of eduards to be house guests. Oct 09, 2008 in elective affinities goethe conducts an experiment with the lives of people who are living badly. If one mistreats citizens of foreign countries, one infringes upon one s duty toward one s own subjects. A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. View more articles from the journal of speculative philosophy. The distinction between mythic and divine violence.
In the late 19th century, german sociologist max weber, who had read the works of goethe at the age of 14, used goethe s conception of human elective affinities to formulate a large part of sociology. Benjamins goethes elective affinities 289 metaphysical. The cambridge companion to walter benjamin thiscompanionoffersacomprehensiveintroductiontotheworkandthought of the highly in. Benjamins contemporaneous essay goethes elective affinities is used to elucidate the reasoning. Walter benjamin and romanticism walter benjamin studies. The translation is good but suffers a bit from the awkwardness of german syntax. Dive deep into johann goethe s elective affinities with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. Elective affinities is widely acknowledged as standardsetting in the reception. At goethes time, however, it had a technical meaning, used only in chemistry.
Walter benjamin wrote an essay entitled goethes elective affinities. Analysis of goethes elective affinities is an article from the journal of speculative philosophy, volume 19. His celebrated essay on goethes novella, the elective affinities, was. Johann heimlich wilhelm tischbein, goethe in the roman campagna, 1787. Apr 22, 2014 goethes strange, elusive third novel, elective affinities. About the publisher forgotten books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Through a detailed and scholarly analysis of the major texts, the book explores the endurance of benjamins relationship to romanticism, the residual presence of romantic goethean and h. Walter benjamin goethes elective affinities free download as pdf file.
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