| Schiller |
His brilliance was inspiring to generations of writers, musician and philosophers, his
ideas full of life and light, their magnetism eternal. Swabian Friedrich von Schiller,
1759-1805, was a leading German 18th-century poet, dramatist, and literary theorist.
He also wrote an extensive tract on the history of the Thirty Years War. Sent against
his wishes to a military academy as a young man, Schiller studied law and medicine
and was for a time an army surgeon. His first drama was the play Die Rauber about a
rebellious, noble outlaw, Karl Moor.
ideas full of life and light, their magnetism eternal. Swabian Friedrich von Schiller,
1759-1805, was a leading German 18th-century poet, dramatist, and literary theorist.
He also wrote an extensive tract on the history of the Thirty Years War. Sent against
his wishes to a military academy as a young man, Schiller studied law and medicine
and was for a time an army surgeon. His first drama was the play Die Rauber about a
rebellious, noble outlaw, Karl Moor.
His Wilhelm Tell was so popular during the time of the Napoleonic occupation that the French banned
the play, but it had created a republican spirit that soon helped lead to Napoleon's defeat. The
German generals sometimes had their soldiers perform the play to inspire their troops who carried
Schiller's poems into battle with them. At the battle of Leipzig where Napoleon was badly beaten, the
soldiers recited "the Rütli oath'' from Wilhelm Tell, a tradition which was commemorated on the very
same battlefield with a performance of Wilhelm Tell for at least fifty years:
the play, but it had created a republican spirit that soon helped lead to Napoleon's defeat. The
German generals sometimes had their soldiers perform the play to inspire their troops who carried
Schiller's poems into battle with them. At the battle of Leipzig where Napoleon was badly beaten, the
soldiers recited "the Rütli oath'' from Wilhelm Tell, a tradition which was commemorated on the very
same battlefield with a performance of Wilhelm Tell for at least fifty years:
| We will become a single land of brothers, Nor shall we part in danger and distress. We will be free, just as our fathers were, And sooner die, than live in slavery. We will rely upon the highest God And we shall never fear the might of men. |
Schiller's plays were published in America, in fact, "The Robbers" was the first drama printed in
Philadelphia, and it was performed as a play in 1796 in New York. Friedrich Schiller's work inspired
Frederick Douglass, and in his paper North Star, Douglass called Schiller "The Poet of Freedom''.
One of the most famous translators of Schiller was John Quincy Adams, who was the ambassador to
Prussia from 1797 to 1801 before he became President of the United States in 1824, and his book,
'44 Letters About Germany', created great interest in the German classics and literature.
Philadelphia, and it was performed as a play in 1796 in New York. Friedrich Schiller's work inspired
Frederick Douglass, and in his paper North Star, Douglass called Schiller "The Poet of Freedom''.
One of the most famous translators of Schiller was John Quincy Adams, who was the ambassador to
Prussia from 1797 to 1801 before he became President of the United States in 1824, and his book,
'44 Letters About Germany', created great interest in the German classics and literature.
Schiller, although probably unheard of by the average school child today, was internationally adored
in a way few men have been. It was a Russian nobleman who had participated in the Liberation
Wars against Napoleon in 1812-13 that had the first statue of Schiller on record erected on his estate
on the island of Pucht, off the coast of Estonia, with the inscription: "To the memory of the bard of
Germany, Friedrich Schiller, beloved by the muses. 1813.'' A statue of Schiller by Ernst Rau graces
his hometown of Marbach. Unveiled on May 9, 1876, it is twice life-sized and comprised of 3,200
pounds of bronze from the King's donated captured cannonballs. In 1886, its replica was erected
amid jubilant celebration in Chicago, and another was erected in St. Louis in 1898. Yet another
Schiller statue was erected in Omaha, Nebraska. Copies of the Schiller-Goethe statue in Weimar
were brought to the United States, and San Francisco and Cleveland have full-size copies in their
parks. Johann Heinrich Dannecker created a famous bust of Schiller, as well as one of George
Washington, so there is a Schiller in New York City's Central Park, in Akron,Ohio and also at Johns
Hopkins University. Another was unveiled in New Orleans in 1859.
in a way few men have been. It was a Russian nobleman who had participated in the Liberation
Wars against Napoleon in 1812-13 that had the first statue of Schiller on record erected on his estate
on the island of Pucht, off the coast of Estonia, with the inscription: "To the memory of the bard of
Germany, Friedrich Schiller, beloved by the muses. 1813.'' A statue of Schiller by Ernst Rau graces
his hometown of Marbach. Unveiled on May 9, 1876, it is twice life-sized and comprised of 3,200
pounds of bronze from the King's donated captured cannonballs. In 1886, its replica was erected
amid jubilant celebration in Chicago, and another was erected in St. Louis in 1898. Yet another
Schiller statue was erected in Omaha, Nebraska. Copies of the Schiller-Goethe statue in Weimar
were brought to the United States, and San Francisco and Cleveland have full-size copies in their
parks. Johann Heinrich Dannecker created a famous bust of Schiller, as well as one of George
Washington, so there is a Schiller in New York City's Central Park, in Akron,Ohio and also at Johns
Hopkins University. Another was unveiled in New Orleans in 1859.
Published in 1781, it had great success and gave Schiller instant European recognition. When the
duke learned that Schiller had, without permission, left his regiment to see the play performed at
Mannheim, he put the young officer under arrest and forbade him to write anything more. Schiller
later settled in Leipzig.
duke learned that Schiller had, without permission, left his regiment to see the play performed at
Mannheim, he put the young officer under arrest and forbade him to write anything more. Schiller
later settled in Leipzig.
At first an avid supporter of the French Revolution, hoping it would lead to the formation of a
constitutional republic, he was disheartened when it became a blood bath and quipped, "The voice
of the majority is no proof of justice." As a professor of history and philosophy in Jena, he and
Goethe founded the Weimar theater. His inspiration for many years was Charlotte von Kalb, a
married woman, but in 1790, Schiller married Charlotte von Lengefeldt and they had four children.
constitutional republic, he was disheartened when it became a blood bath and quipped, "The voice
of the majority is no proof of justice." As a professor of history and philosophy in Jena, he and
Goethe founded the Weimar theater. His inspiration for many years was Charlotte von Kalb, a
married woman, but in 1790, Schiller married Charlotte von Lengefeldt and they had four children.
Although a playwright, historian and poet, some believe that his most lasting contribution was in the
field of philosophy where he delved into aesthetics and, influenced by Immanuel Kant, came up with
a new definition of beauty that would inspire later philosophers and even whole movements. For his
achievements, Schiller was ennobled in 1802 by the Duke of Weimar and his name was enobled with
a von, becoming Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller. The choral setting of Nänie by Brahms was
influenced by Schiller, and Verdi admired him greatly and adapted several his stage plays. Among
Schiller's best-known works is An Die Freude, or Ode to Joy, later set to music by Ludwig van
Beethoven in his Choral Symphony. Schiller died young, an invalid.
field of philosophy where he delved into aesthetics and, influenced by Immanuel Kant, came up with
a new definition of beauty that would inspire later philosophers and even whole movements. For his
achievements, Schiller was ennobled in 1802 by the Duke of Weimar and his name was enobled with
a von, becoming Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller. The choral setting of Nänie by Brahms was
influenced by Schiller, and Verdi admired him greatly and adapted several his stage plays. Among
Schiller's best-known works is An Die Freude, or Ode to Joy, later set to music by Ludwig van
Beethoven in his Choral Symphony. Schiller died young, an invalid.