Author: Bell, Matthew

Source: Publications of the English Goethe Society, Volume 78, Numbers 1-2, March 2009 , pp. 11-21(11)

Publisher: Maney Publishing

Abstract:

Kleist's 'tragic vision' is here related to the great historical tradition of melancholy, and specifically to the iconography established by Dürer's Melencolia I. In readings of Der Findling, Die Verlobung in St. Domingo, and Michael Kohlhaas, the characters' perplexity is seen to culminate in melancholy. The cognitive stance of melancholy is validated by the chaotic nature of chance events. Suggestions are made for widening the focus to other aspects of the melancholy tradition with which Kleist came into contact.

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Keywords: PESSIMISM; KLEIST; MELANCHOLY; DÜRER; CHANCE

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/174962809X399733

Affiliations: King's College London, UK

Publication date: 2009-03-01

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