German Classics, Vol. 3: Lessing, Goethe, Schiller, Edited With English Notes Etc.; Minna Von Barnhelm, a Comedy by Lessing (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

C. A. Buchheim

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0428577075 ISBN 13: 9780428577070

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

This book is a full-length study of Lessing's Minna von Barnhelm: A Comedy in Five Acts. The author presents a close critical analysis of the play, its literary value, and its historical significance in the development of German literature. The author argues that Lessing's play is no mere comedy of manners but a resonant critique of contemporary society and a powerful indictment of the devastating effects of the Seven Years' War, whose debilitating effects on all levels of German society are rendered with vivid realism by the author. The book presents the characters of the play as types, each embodying a particular vice or virtue. They are drawn with great skill and humor, and their interactions drive a plot in which wit and pathos are deftly intertwined. This detailed study thus reveals the myriad complexities of Minna von Barnhelm, showcasing its enduring literary merit, universal appeal, and foundational role in German dramatic history.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0428577075
• ISBN 13: 9780428577070
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 296