A magnanimous act

A generous act. From recent history is a text of Friedrich Schiller, which he recorded in his prose writings smaller. The text was published in 1782.

Action

Two brothers love the same woman. When they become aware of this fact goes first, the older brother abroad. If he succeeds, there separated, to stay away from his love, then is the younger brother to marry the woman. The older brother comes back soon ill. Now the younger brother wants to go abroad and opts for Batavia. If it succeeds, separated there to stay by his love, the woman is the older brother belong. Soon, the younger brother writes from Batavia a letter, explaining that his brother 's wife could now marry. It comes to the wedding and a year later the woman dies. On his deathbed, she explains that she loved the younger brother more.

Background

The narrative Schiller goes back to the story of the brothers of Wurmb, Ludwig (1740-1812) and Friedrich von Wurmb ( 1742-1781 ). The elder of the brothers eventually married Christiane von Werther ( 1750-1778 ).

Intertextual references

His introduction adds Schiller 's desire in that his text " will leave readers warmer than all the volumes of the" Grandison "and" Pamela. " " Its Reference is made to the texts of Sir Charles Grandison and Pamela or rewarded virtue ( " Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded " ) by English writer Samuel Richardson.

Assessment

Bernhard Zeller says in the epilogue that Schiller had taken up with the two brothers who love the same girl a popular motif of the time, but adds: " However, the story lacks all dramatic effects; the poet is limited to the simple, interrupted only by a few reflections and attentive to moral effect report the real facts. "

Text output

• Friedrich Schiller: A magnanimous act. In: ders. , The criminals of Lost Honour and other stories. Afterword by Bernhard Zeller. Stuttgart 2008 (RUB 8891), pp. 34-37.