Items related to Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship
Johann Goethe's classic novel, wherein the protagonist undergoes a period of enlightening realization after he aspires to escape his mundane life as a merchant, is presented here complete in a single volume.
Notable for being an early example of the Bildungsroman - a story depicting the central character's growth thanks to his circumstances and efforts - Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship shows us a character whose life typifies middle-class mediocrity. Eager to escape a benign existence and reach some sort of higher goal which, in the beginning, even he is unaware of - Wilhelm is portrayed as a haphazard and lascivious, if determined, hero.
The book is characterized by numerous romances, the first being Wilhelm's affair with Mariane, a young theatre actress. Eventually he is recruited into a shadowy association named the Tower Society, which reveals it has been watching closely his progress through the world since he vowed to abandon his routine existence as a trader.
Lengthy and at times meandering, the book was never rated by critics of literature either at the time of its release or subsequently. A common criticism is that most the characters aside from William lack in depth, and serve only to advance his journey through life as bit players in the story-at-large. Another is that the plot sometimes veers to the fantastical, while leaving twists - such as the methods behind the Tower Society's surveillance - completely unexplained.
However, readers and scholars have noted that the timeless wisdom and genius of Goethe shines through on frequent occasions. His keen understanding of human fallibility occurs in moments of sudden insight, wherein revelations on humanity are dispensed. Perhaps most valuable in terms of a recurrent theme are Goethe's contemplation of William Shakespeare's dramas, particularly that of Hamlet.
Intended not merely for entertainment, Goethe's second novel occasionally veers to outright philosophy, as in this thought from William:
"The rude man is content if he sees but something going on; the man of more refinement must be made to feel; the man entirely refined, desires to reflect."
Notable for being an early example of the Bildungsroman - a story depicting the central character's growth thanks to his circumstances and efforts - Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship shows us a character whose life typifies middle-class mediocrity. Eager to escape a benign existence and reach some sort of higher goal which, in the beginning, even he is unaware of - Wilhelm is portrayed as a haphazard and lascivious, if determined, hero.
The book is characterized by numerous romances, the first being Wilhelm's affair with Mariane, a young theatre actress. Eventually he is recruited into a shadowy association named the Tower Society, which reveals it has been watching closely his progress through the world since he vowed to abandon his routine existence as a trader.
Lengthy and at times meandering, the book was never rated by critics of literature either at the time of its release or subsequently. A common criticism is that most the characters aside from William lack in depth, and serve only to advance his journey through life as bit players in the story-at-large. Another is that the plot sometimes veers to the fantastical, while leaving twists - such as the methods behind the Tower Society's surveillance - completely unexplained.
However, readers and scholars have noted that the timeless wisdom and genius of Goethe shines through on frequent occasions. His keen understanding of human fallibility occurs in moments of sudden insight, wherein revelations on humanity are dispensed. Perhaps most valuable in terms of a recurrent theme are Goethe's contemplation of William Shakespeare's dramas, particularly that of Hamlet.
Intended not merely for entertainment, Goethe's second novel occasionally veers to outright philosophy, as in this thought from William:
"The rude man is content if he sees but something going on; the man of more refinement must be made to feel; the man entirely refined, desires to reflect."
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From the Back Cover:
The story centers on Wilhelm, a young man living in the mid 1700's who strives to break free from the restrictive world of economics and seeks fulfillment as an actor and playwright. Along with Eric Blackall's fresh translation of the work, this edition contains notes and an afterword by the translator that aims to put this novel into historical artistic perspective for twentieth-century readers while showing how it defies categorization.
About the Author:
The German poet, novelist, playwright, courtier, scientist, and philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) ranks among the greatest authors of Western literature. His best known writings include "The Sorrows of Young Werther" (his first novel) and "Faust" (a drama in two parts).
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherCreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
- Publication date2017
- ISBN 10 1546308792
- ISBN 13 9781546308799
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages296
- Rating
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