‘Ludwig Tieck’s life.’

Ludwig Tieck is a late 18^th and early 19^th century German Romantic author. He is also an accomplished poet and translator. Tieck came from Berlin, a bourgeois. He studied at 3 different universities. He published Der blonde Eckbert as part of a series of short stories called “Volksmärchen.” He eventually married and had a daughter, Dorothea, and made Jena his home in 1798; later he moved to Dresden in 1819. One important source of influence in Tieck’s life was Friedrich Schlegel, who was living in Jena in 1796 and published with his brother, Athenäum in 1798. Both Friedrich and his brother “hopped ‘within five to ten years to be the critical dictators of Germany’.” 5) Tieck was the leader of a school of Romanticism where he wrote plays for the school; often dramas. He translated the book Don Quixote as well as some of Shakespeare’s and Heinrich von Kleist’s work. Tieck later retired in Berlin on a pension that was given to him by king Friedrich Wilhelm IV.

‘Time frame from which Tieck was writing.’

“…German literature between classicism and expressionism, appealed to a large audience and was within reach of the common reader.” 2)  This expansion… the ability to raise the interest of the readers in the problems of life, their own problems, and in the artistic presentation and filtration of these concerns.” 2)

The re-tooling of Germany through education and middle class development helped usher in the Classics. It was all about introspection and searching the depth of the human mind and spirit. The Id. What was it? Why do we have one? And, what do we do with it? “The pre-eminent tension from which no writer of the time can isolate himself is that between… values of a feudal ruling caste and the slowly evolving self-testing of the middle class.” 5) The French revolution brought about the bourgeoisie or middle class. This new educated public was to in all essence, assume dictatorial powers and authority placed upon them by their ruling monarchy to carry out various processes of the country. In German literature, the Wiemar Classics were followed by the Romantic period.

“The German Classical age begins with the assertion of a sense of the new in Lessing’s incomparable defense of rational pragmatism; it ends with a disavowal of the social instrumentality of reason in the subjective idealism of the romantic doctrine.” 5) The Weimar Classics are most notably marked by that of Friedrich Schiller and Johann Goethe. In the Classics everything had a place. Simplicity and rationality subdued emotion. Architecture had structure and form. The ‘new man’ was the theme of the day, brought on by the Enlightenment period. The Enlightenment period was brought on by the relaxed grip of religion which gave way to the rise of thinking minds like Voltaire and Kant who broke new ground in science and philosophy. Suddenly, as if overnight, everything needed to be tested both mentally and scientifically by virtually everyone.

 “Nineteenth century literature must not be analyzed as a period reveling the first symptoms of a schizophrenic mind, but studied for the resourcefulness with which it dissociated itself from corroding thought, and admired for its will to maintain a humane mood.” 2)

The main theme of Romanticism was, ‘war against the Classical period and the Enlightenment period from which it came.’ Suddenly everything had feelings and emotions. Fantasy and reality are one and the same. From walls to horses, seas to skies, nothing was off limits to the depth from which its story could be told and how it could be told, if even told in its entirety. All bets are off when it comes to Romanticism. Night can be day. Death can be life. Beginnings can have no endings. Poems and songs can be part of the story. Grammar is but a word that has its own story to tell. “German literary historians are not normally in the habit of dwelling on the stylistic and formal elements, and have to be exhorted from time to time to surrender more readily to the fascination of a striking image, a perfectly wrought phrase, a skillfully joined interplay of motifs or any such valeurs as only il miglior fabbro can produce.” 2) “German Literature of the nineteenth century is rich in such surprises and does not have to fear comparison with any other period, as for as the sheer pleasure of felicitous expression and comparison is concerned.” 2) “Hence its double role in the history of nineteenth century literature as in any other age: to receive, examine, refine and transmit the impulses of valuable tradition, to continue on the march to the millennium and at the same time to remind us in manifestations of arresting beauty that life can reach a maximum of satisfaction at any given time, without having to wait for the realization of our collective hopes and dreams.” 2)

‘Time elements from which Tieck used to write about.’

Concerning religion during medieval Germany, most people were still being converted to monotheistic Christendom from their pagan gods. Faith and fear was how most people faced their world since rationalism was not an option. Besides that, there were still Teutonic peoples living in tribes.

Prior to the 1100’s there was no German Literature to speak of. Some of the first German writings were that of the legal and spells/ incantations type. During this time, the Huns and Germanic Kingdoms were finally making peace treaties.

German writing began with poetry around the year 800 about hero named Hildebrand (actually a song). The Hildebrand’s Lied is about two great warriors who do battle to find out who the best is. The older man kills the younger man only to find out afterwards that it was his son that he battled and killed.

During the Merovingian times, history watched as Emperor Henry IV had his bluff called at Canossa by Pope Gregory VII with regards to where his soul would spend eternity. However, the real underpinnings of the situation was that of who held greater sway over the kingdoms of Germany at the time. But oddly enough, Christianity was not unified in Germany until the 18^th century. Novalis, the idea of translating of mythology into the arts by way of natural religion, was at the crux of writing during this time. One example is the importance of the color yellow and its association to Judas Iscariot’s  betrayal of Jesus Christ. Yellow represented all things evil, grotesque, cowardly, and unfaithful. While Eckbert does not himself wear yellow, his hair is. Most cultures consider blond hair as yellow. To further the demonize Eckbert, he is also portrayed as effeminate.

The Children’s Crusades are something of fierce debate. What lies at the heart of this ongoing investigation is whether or not there was a youth lead and youth participated Crusade, during the actual Crusades, who were on their own quest to reclaim the holy land, namely Jerusalem. Facts regarding this issue are at odds with one another as to the proper translation of certain texts which might reveal the actual events that took place during that time. Where they do agree, only conjecture abounds. But the consensus is that there were lower to middleclass lead marches to Jerusalem in the name of Jesus Christ; none of which made it to their destination. The end result was their disbandment and conversion into a lesser lifestyle than when they had started out. 1)

It is important that we take a quick look back into history’s pages and recall the events from which Ludwig Tieck dips his fountain pen in. Holly Warriors, a recent Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) TV program, takes a look at the Third Crusade, which found Richard the Lionhearted striving to reclaim Christendom's holiest city, Jerusalem, from the Muslim leader Saladin where it reveals the facts behind the lore.

The first century of the new millennium brought in the first crusade. A few hundred years later, the city of Acre fell to Richard the Lionhearted where he left no living thing within the city walls alive.

Saladin was a Kurd from Iraq, not an Arab. But, like Richard, took care of the emperor’s rivals. He used religion to unify Arabs and call a jihad against the Christian infidel to get Jerusalem back; Richard did the same only for the Christians.

Christian artifacts were believed to be endowed with special powers; i.e. a piece of wood from the crucifix Jesus Christ was nailed to.

Saladin retook Jerusalem sparring all Christians and purifying the city by cleansing it with rosewood laden water. He then became Islam’s greatest warrior, especially after having conquered the infidel on the same day Mohammad was supposed to have ascended to heaven from Jerusalem. This earned him the notoriety second only to the prophet Mohammad.

Richard chose war ships over the Emperor’s throne. By accepting the throne, he would have extended his rule over the entire German Empire succeeding Barbarosa. After having made that Earth moving decision, Richard and his friends were whipped up in a whirlwind of blood thirst and wanderlust to march down to the Middle-East. After sounding the cry of war, the Holy Roman Vatican City personally sanctified the vengeful and gave them special cloth crosses that they were to wear until Jerusalem was once again in control of Christian hands. In return for their service, the Catholic Church would grant them forgiveness from all their sins.

Friedrich Barbarosa, the German Emperor, led a failed attempt at regaining Jerusalem prior to Richard’s arrival. Soon thereafter, Barbarosa died and had his bones were prepared so they could be buried in Jerusalem upon the event it was recaptured; around the year 1191.

After Richard shows up with his troops to remove Saladin’s control over Jerusalem, Richard falls ill. During which time, Saladin waits for Richard to overcome his ailment. Meanwhile, both leaders treat each other with respect and reverence but never meeting face to face. After recovery, Richard drives Saladin from one of many cities in route into Jerusalem. After a long period of diplomatic failure, Richard goes out twice with his armies to win Jerusalem but, changed his mind each time he got there and turned around and left. His actions led to Saladin’s continued rule over the Fertile Crescent and the entire Middle-East. In the end, Richard was left with a small foot hold on what is now Israel’s coast line and the name of “Lionhearted” for personally leading his armies attacks and advances.

‘Characters and significant events in the story: Interpretations of the Characters actions and significant events in the story.’

Der blonde Eckbert begins with a slothful knight (Eckbert) asking his wife to tell his close, and only, friend the story of how she came to marry him. Bertha begins by saying her father used to beat her, thinking she was slothful, but really she was just uncoordinated; he was verbally abusive as well.

Bertha would sit in the cottage corner and dream about how she would one day magically become rich and come back to her home to rescue everyone. At night she would cry herself to sleep wishing she was not a burden on her family and that she was dead. Then one day….Bertha stepped outside her house at the age of 8 through a portal to another dimension and into a forest. She walked (for 4 days and 3nights) through the forest (sleeping in the forest too) and hills and through a village, lumber, and scrap yard (the same way Eckbert went thru later in the story)… she was so hungry and thirsty that she thought she was going to die from hunger and thirst until an old lady appeared and took her in.

One can say the old lady was a witch, but if one digs deeper in the story, one can clearly see elements of the book: The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (written around 1310). This would mean that the old lady is either a demon or Lucifer himself. One can see this relationship by Bertha and Eckbert’s sudden transportation to another “dimension” (purgatory; 9^th level, on one of the 7 terraces that represent each of the 7 deadly sins.) from behind the waterfall (which is a symbol associated with sexual intercourse) which can only be found by going through a hidden alleyway (a place that society associates with deviant/ lewd behavior). The circle around their castle in the woods not only represents their solitude but, that they are in one of the lower parts of hell which reside within the city walls of Dis which itself is surrounded by the river Styx (which is represented by the water fall in Tieck’s story). 8) Now, most readers of Der blonde Eckbert are often lead to believe that Tieck is simply trying to show us that through Bertha and Eckbert, our sins don’t go without punishment. But rather, it is of my opinion (if indeed he is trying to educate us) that Tieck wants us the reader to think of life the same way William Shakespeare put it, “All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts... “--William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), "As You Like It", Act 2 scene 7.

Some points of special interest in the story are: The bird that sings about “a day without end”; The small dog which was probably a special breed; She lived with the old lady and her special books and china-hutch with beautiful cups; Both the bird and dog had no name (except later in the story); The bird answers the girls questions in song. When the old lady comes back for the last time, she praises Bertha verbally and warns her immediately afterwards and uses the words: “if it’s not to late”, but then the girl turns around and says (paraphrased), “Whatever! I read about money and how to use it wisely.”; 14 years old and she finally gets the idea that she can steal the bird and leave the cottage, but was this idea put in her head by the old lady?; Bertha had a  “premonition” of her relationship with Eckbert after reading a book and having been left alone for a while (at least after the 4year marker). 7) I point out these ambiguities to demonstrate some major features of the story which are “loose ends”. In other words, they are never fully explored in the story and are left to the readers imagination as to how they should fit in the story.--Recall the discussion on the time period from which Tieck was writing.

‘How these interpretations relate and apply to today: How this story is already part of today’s society.’

I believe that Der blonde Eckbert, based on an oral story, was for the child to be inquisitive and ask questions to which they would get ambiguous answers which would lead them to draw from their own insight and make their own conclusions; much the way a puzzle or riddle would have a lasting novelty. Whether or not this story was written to educate is purely speculative. However, the entertainment value for adults and acquiring minds would seem more plausible to those who may never have heard it. Also, by converting this oral story to paper gave the learned the ability to search deeper into the psyche of their own culture, customs, and traditions. It also ensured its soundness throughout time where otherwise it would have continued to be subjected to change over time giving varying accounts of the story by those who only heard it by word of mouth. But more importantly, it connected the rich to the poor on an even deeper level as they were still the predominant literate in the 19^th century.

The Libertine (2005) is a recent Hollywood film example of the life of Ludwig Tieck to recently hit the big screen; starring Johnny Depp. The difference between Tieck and the movie is that he was not wealthy to begin with and never lived in England, nor did he have such loose affairs with women.

            A recent film depicting medieval relations in the mid-east was Kingdom of Heaven (2005). This theatrical film parallels the PBS TV show, highlighting the main points of historical events. A few more American films that might help explain German Romanticism are: Excalibur, Ladyhawke, The Princess Bride, Legend, and Willow. Despite their British overtones and sole use of the English language sprinkled with tidbits of Latin. Society is often surprised and delighted to find kernels of truth hidden within entertainment. To quote ‘Mouse’, Mathew Broderick’s character in the movie Ladyhawke: “Maybe I’m dreaming… my eyes are open… which means… maybe I’m awake dreaming I’m asleep… or… or, more likely… maybe I’m asleep dreaming I’m awake wondering if I’m dreaming.” 4) Here again the ambiguity that is encountered in Romantic Literature and even film. The lines of fantasy and reality are simply not there or just disguised in such a way as to not be seen. And, it is important to remember that Romanticism was not meant to be solely serious, humorous, or frightful. Rather, felt with whatever emotions that both the writer and reader have agreed upon.

Finally, Der blonde Eckbert will in my opinion, inevitably arrive on the big screen. After all, Germany as well as many other nations around the world are still enjoying the old lady’s magical bird’s bejeweled eggs, now called… Kinder Eggs

( http://www.kinder-eggs.com/ ).

Bibliography

1. Children’s Crusade. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_Crusade > Online. Accessed: April 06, 2006.

2. Boeschenstein, H. German Literature of the 19^th Century. p.3, 4, 6, 7. 1969. St. Martin’s Press. New York.

3. Holy Warriors. This look at the Third Crusade, which found Richard the Lionhearted striving to reclaim Christendom's holiest city, Jerusalem, from the Muslim leader Saladin, reveals the facts behind the lore. < http://www.pbs.org/search/search_programsaz.html#h > Online. Viewed: April 19, 2006. 8:00pm. Channel 2, station KUSD.

4. Ladyhawke. 1985. Directed by Richard Donner. Starring: Matthew Broderick, Rutger Hauer, Michelle Pfeiffer. Written by Edward Khmara.

5. Lange, V. The Classical Age of German Literature 1740- 1815. p. 3, 167. 1982. Holmes and Meier Publishers, Inc. New York.

6. Salmon, S. Introduction to German Literature Volume 1 Literature in Medieval Germany. 1967. Barnes and Nobel Inc. New York.

7. Tieck, L. Der blonde Eckbert. 1797. < http://gutenberg.spiegel.de/autoren/tieck.htm > Online. Accessed: April 06, 2006.

8. The Divine Comedy. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante%27s_Inferno > Online. Accessed: April 06, 2006.