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The Road to Auch Einer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2020

Harvey W. Hewett-Thayer
Harvey W. Hewett-Thayer*
Affiliation:
Princeton University, New Jersey
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Extract

Friedrich Theodor Vischer has sometimes been called the Lessing of the nineteenth century. In certain aspects of their lives the parallel is striking. They were the sons of clergymen and were expected to follow in their fathers' footsteps, but each turned to other pursuits. Liberal thinking, particularly in theology, though differing fundamentally in texture, brought them into conflict with traditional orthodoxy. They were both critics in the field of aesthetics and both were men of letters in the narrower sense; Lessing alone, however, gained a position of distinction in literature.

Type
Research Article
Information
PMLA , Volume 75 , Issue 1 , March 1960 , pp. 83 - 96
Copyright
Copyright © Modern Language Association of America, 1960

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References

1 For Vischer bibliography cf. 0. Hesnard: Friedrich Theodor Vischer, étude bibliographique (Paris, 1921); also appendix to Briefwechsel zwischen Strauss und Vischer, hrsg. v. Adolf Rapp (Stuttgart, 1952–53), ii. 330–346; specifically for Auch Finer cf. note 45.

2 Hallische Jahrbiicher, 1839; Kritische Gange, 1844, ii, 49ff; 1914, ii. 199–319. Vischer's Kritische Gange, referred to here as K.G., appeared as follows: Stuttgart, 1844; Neue Folge, 1860–73; Leipzig, 1914, hrsg. v. Robert Vischer. Cf. also Altes und Neues, gesammelte Aufsatze, 3 Bde. Stuttgart, 1881–82; Neue Folge, hrsg.v. Robert Vischer, Stuttgart, 1889.

3 According to Theobald Ziegler, Vischer's popularity among the Tubingen students was markedly diminished after his return from Zurich in 1866; he tactlessly vented his scorn on the pettiness and provincialism of the little university town that they loved; also the quality of the university lectures had improved; excellence in form and delivery was no longer a monopoly of Vischer's. Cf. Friedrich Theodor Vischer: Vortrag gehalten im Verein filr Kunst und Wissenschaft zu Hamburg, Stuttgart, 1893.

4 Cf. Briefwechsel zwischen Strauss und Vischer, i. 40.

5 That both Vischer and Strauss had their sons baptized and later confirmed may, in view of their opinions, seem strangely inconsistent. It is probable that they regarded Confirmation as a rite of the State as much as of the Church. The wives of both Vischer and Strauss were or had been Roman Catholics, though in each case there was only a Protestant marriage ceremony. Both of these marriages ended in separation. It should be stressed that Vischer had ample provocation for the vehemence of some of his attacks. The paper by Willi Oelmuller, “Das Problem des Àsthetischen bei Friedrich Theodor Vischer” (Jahrbuch der deulschen Schillergesellschafl, 1958) was published after the present article was written. Partly on the basis of extensive unpublished material the author presents evidence of Vischer's early scepticism as to the validity of Christian orthodoxy; the article provides also an illuminating exposition of Vischer's successive and varying concepts of aesthetic principles.

6 Cf. Vischer's letter to Strauss with reference to Strauss's life of their common friend Märklin: the publication of this work might be salutary in keeping young men out of the jaws (Molochrachen) of the Church; or in another letter: through the stipends the “Stift” lures so many and makes them unhappy (Briefwechsel, i. 246, 240).

7 For Vischer's address and the subsequent communication to the Ministry cf. K.G., 1914, i. 130–181.

8 In later comment on this address (1880) Vischer admits that the exuberance of youth led him to say things that his maturity could hardly justify (K.G., 1914, i. x.) It is possible that Vischer in saying “Ich bin ganz Mann der Partei” had in mind and expected his hearers to recall Freiligrath's lines: “Der Dichter steht auf einer höhern Warte / Als auf den Zinnen der Partei” and Herwegh's rebuke. Vischer had recently reviewed Herwegh's poems.

9 In his statement to the Ministry Vischer repudiated such an interpretation: “Und trotz diesen deutlichen, in verschie-denen Wendungen wiederholten Äusserungen konnte man meinen, ich habe die Absicht ausgesprochen, in kollegialische Verhältnisse, wo Person der Person gegenüber steht, Leiden-schaften hineinzutragen, die ruhige, gehaltene Form der Ver-handlung durch Roheit und Masslosigkeit zu stören” (K.G., 1914,i.147).

10 Many years later (1880) Vischer wrote: “Wir glaubten damais wie vor einer politischen—worin wir Recht hatten—so vor der Geburt einer ganz neuen Kunst zu stehen, die eine notwendige Frucht derselben erschien—was freilich ein schöner Traum war” (Altes und Neues, 1881,i.108).

11 Ballische Jahrbücher, 1841; K.G., 1844 (with additional note); 1914,1. 107–129.

12 Review of Carl Gustav Reuschle's Philosophie und Wis-senschaft, zur Erinnerung an David Friedrich Strauss (1874) in the Jenaer Literatur-Zeitung, 1874, republished in revised form, Altes und Neues, 1882, in. 181–249.

13 It was reported that his lectures were not free from gratuitous bits of anti-ecclesiastical propaganda. In connection with Vischer's candidacy for promotion, as early as 1841, Strauss warns his friend of damaging rumors and gives one example: “Du habest in Deinem Faust gesagt, Du setzest voraus, dass Deine Horer an keine Unsterblichkeit glauben” (5 Dec. 1841; Briefwechsel, i. 106).

14 Ballische Jahrbücher, 1838; K.G., 1844, i. 3–130, with “Zusatz”;1914,1.1-106.

15 Vischer's review of Strauss's Der alte und der neue Glaube appeared in K.G., 1873; 1914, i. 280–295. Vischer wrote an indignant defence of Gustav Binder, who was criticized for speaking at Strauss's grave, “Zur Sache des Angriffs gegen Direktor von Binder,” Beilage zur Allgemeinen Zeitung, 18 Mar. 1874; K.G., 1914, i. 296–306, and he delivered an address at the unveiling of a tablet on the house of Strauss's birth in Ludwigsburg (Ausgewählte Werke hrsg. v. Th. Kapp-stein,vrn. 107–111).

16 As a participant in the political life of the time (Frankfurt Parliament, the so-called “Rump-Parliament” in Stuttgart, the Frankfurt “Schutzenfest” of 1862) Vischer was mainly interested in the separation of Church and State; he was a candidate for the Wurttemberg Parliament but was defeated.

17 Jahrbücher der Gegenwart, 1845; K.G., 1914, I. 188–216.

18 He supports his opinion by quoting Goethe: “Was war' ein Gott, der nur von aussen stiesse”; but he ignores the presence of “nur.”

19 Altes und Neues, 1882, iii. 130–148.

20 K.G., 1914, i. 285, and Ailes und Neues, ii. 135.

21 Within limits Hannelene Kipper's thesis: Die Literar-kritik Friedrich Theodor Vischers (Giessener Beiträge, 78, Giessen, 1941) has distinct merits, but it is far from a comprehensive account of Vischer's activity as a critic of literature.

22 “Wahre politische Poésie hatte immer eine grosse Ver-gangenheit zum Stoffe”; cf. “Shakespeare in seinem Ver-hältnis zur deutschen Poesie, insbesondere zur politischen” (Das literarische Taschenbuch, 1844; K.G., 1851,I. 69 ff; 1914 II. 50–91; “Herwegh,” Jahrbücher der Gegenwart, 1843; with added review of Herwegh's second volume, K.G., 1844; 1914, ii. 92–134; “Noch ein Wort daruber, warum ich von der jetzigen Poesie nichts halte,” Jahrbücher der Gegenwart, 1844; K.G., 1914. ii. 136–147; but in “Politische Poesie,” Jahrbücher der Gegenwart, 1845; K.G., 1914, ii. 165–182, he finds high merit in Prutz's Die politische Wochenstube.

23 “Eine Reise,” K.G., 1860; 1914,1. 349.

24 Jahrbücher der Gegenwart, Jan. 1848; K.G., 1914, ii. 183–198; review of Eichendorff's Über die ethische und religiöse Bedeutungder neueren romantischen Poésie in Deutschland.

25 Strauss thought that some of the Romanticists, Novalis for example, were more serious in their leaning toward Catholicism than Vischer credits them with being: cf. Brief-wechsel, I. 209.

26 Cf. Briefwechsel zwischen Eduard Mörike und Friedrich Theodor Vischer, hrsg. v. Robert Vischer, München, 1926: “Du wirst in diesem Gebiet, was Du leistest, immer etwas Treffliches, aber doch nur solches leisten, was einem von un-serm jetzigen ästhetischen Zeiturteil doch bereits zurück-gelegten Prinzip angehört … Ich möchte gern ein Drama von Dir! Ich mochte es der Welt so sehr gönnen! Oder etwas umfassend Episches, was die Welt hinreisst durch weltbe-herrschende Ideen aus der sittlichen Welt! Ich möchte Dich bitten, einen grossen historischen Stoff zu behandeln!” p. 148; “Zwar glaube ich jetzt—ich muss ganz offen sein—dass zum Teil auch jenes Prinzip der Romantik es ist, das Dich grösseren männlich gewaltigeren Stoffen entfremdet” p. 182.

27 Cf. review of Maler Nolten, Hallische Jahrbücher, 1839; K.G., 1914, ii. 1–20; of Gedichte, Jahrbücher für wissenschaft-liche Krilik, 1839; K.G., 1844, ii. 243 ff; 1914, ii. 20–49. Vischer delivered an address at Mörike's grave and later at the unveiling of the Mörike monument in Stuttgart; Aus-gewählte Werke, vii. 132–138. In the diary section of Auch Einer the hero condemns the use of the supernatural in poetry: “So viel er sich damit abgibt, so viel ist es Abbruch an seiner Poésie.” In his correspondence with Strauss, Vischer repeatedly expresses his concern over Môrike's persistence in his poetic ways.

28 K.G., 1863; 1914, ii. 365–414.

29 “den man aus Verehrung für den Dichter selbst der Vergessenheit iiberlassen sollte” (E.G., 1914, ii. 71). Th. A. Meyer : Vischer und der Zweite Teil von Goethes Faust, Stuttgart, 1927 (inaugural address as Rektor of the Technische Hochschule), explains Vischer's disapproval in terms of character: Vischer, a realistic mentor in mundane ethics, lacked interest in metaphysical thought and hence could not comprehend Goethe's thesis, the reconciliation between human earthiness and human aspiration toward the infinite and the Divine. Meyer's references are to the substitute Part ii; he does not quote Vischer's diatribes nor does he touch upon the causes for Vischer's attitude that are suggested in this essay.

30 For example, in “Dr. Strauss und die Württemberger” he wrote of Part n as “diesem frostigen, allegorischen, di-daktischen, totgeborenen Kinde einer welken Phantasie, diesem Produkte, das Goethe der Jüngling und Männ, hätte man es ihm verweisen und sagen kônnen: dieses wirst du einst in deinem Alter machen, in ungläubigem Zorn an die Wand geschleudert hätte” (K.G., 1914, i. 43). The same idea, expressed in a slightly different way, appears in “Pro Domo,” K.G., 1914, ii. 354–355.

31 Cf. Ästhetik. zweite Auflage, 1922, ii. 556 ff. Earlier he had written (1839): “Dass die Allégorie nicht ein Produkt dichterischer Schöpfung, sondern prosaischen Verstandes ist … ist etwas so Weltbekanntes und Triviales, die Kinder auf der Strasse wissen es, dass es eigentlich eine Beleidigung des Publikums ist, wenn man es dariiber zu belehren unternimmt” (K.G., 1914, ii. 207). Ästhetik oder Wissenschaft des Schönen appeared in parts 1846–57.

32 Altes und Neues, ii. 120.

33 To Strauss, who repeatedly objected to Vischer's ranking of Shakespeare above Goethe, Vischer wrote with unusual modesty: “Kann sein, dass ich gegen den Altersstil Goethes zu bös bin” (29 June 1863, Briefwechsel, ii. 184).

34 K.G., 1861; 1914, ii. 320–348.

35 K.G., 1863, ii. 71–95; 1914, ii. 349–364. Vischer was highly resentful of adverse criticism; cf. F. Feilbogen on his reaction to unappreciative reviews of Auch Einer.

36 Shakespeare-Vorlräge, hrsg. v. Robert Vischer, Stuttgart, 1899–1905.

37 Cf. letter to Strauss (14 Feb. 1870, Briefwechsel, ii. 270).

38 “Eine Reise,” K.G., 1914, i. 355.

39 Yet in private letters he expressed more disparaging opinions, for example, that Italian Catholicism is below paganism, letter from Pisa (2 Sept. 1839, Süddeutsche Monatshefte, 1914, p. 392).

40 Jahrbücher der Gegenwart, 1844; Allés und Neues, I. 20–21; Ausgewählle Werke, viii. 391–392. In a letter from Trieste, 29 June 1840, Vischer wrote that he did not kneel: “da ich ein fur allemal nicht ein Heuchler, sondern ein gerader und aufrechter Mensch bleiben will” (Süddeutsche Monats-hefte, 1905, p. 224).

41 Deutsche Jahrbücher für Wissenschaft und Kunst, 1841, pp. 109 ff ; K.G., 1844,i. 163–206.

42 Cf. Use Frapan: Vischer-Erinnerungen: Äusserungen und Worle, Berlin, 1889 p. 96; “Eine Reise,” K.G., 1914, I. 333–336.

43 Ausgewählte Werke, viii. 270, in “Zusatz” to article on the painter Rethel.

44 “Eine Reise,” K.G., 1861; 1914, i. 326.

45 “Ein Gang am Strande,” K.G., 1866; 1914, i. 522.

46 Cf. Franza Feilbogen: Friedrich Theodor Vischers “Auch Einer” Eine Studie, Zurich, 1916; Harry Kùrbs: Studien zur Pfahldorfgeschichte aus Friedrich Theodor Vischers “Auch Einer,” Borna-Leipzig, 1914 (Diss. Munster); H. H. Zisseler: Beitrage zur Entstehungsgeschichte der Dichtung“Auch Einer” von Friedrich Theodor Vischer, Gôttingen, 1913 (Diss. Rostock).

47 Briefwechsel, ii. 193–194.

48 Briefwechsel, ii. 239.

49 In the third volume of Allés und Neues (1882) Vischer included his autobiographical sketch “Mein Lebensgang,” somewhat revised from the version published in Die Gegenwart (1872), together with a “Zusatz” which is concerned entirely with Auch Einer, and primarily with the character of A.E. He cites the example of Jean Paul and notes the presence of an “eccentric” in his own first narrative Cordelia. Partly from unpublished material of a very early date and from both of the early short stories, Zisseler shows Vischer's absorbing interest in eccentrics of the A.E. type. Cf. also J. G. Oswald: Friedrich Theodor Vischer als Dichter, Hamburg, 1896.

50 For possible sources and analogous figures in literature (Tristram Shandy, etc.) cf. Eduard Behrens: “Auch Einer” (Gestalten xvii), Das literarische Echo, 2 Apr. 1920; cols. 770–774. Wilhelm Lang entitled his review of Auch Einer “Jean Paul redivivus” (Im neuen Reich 1878, viii. 781–789); he also notes resemblance to Keller's Die Leute von Seldwyla.

51 Feilbogen and Kürbs supply extended information as to books that Vischer demonstrably used or that were available to him by way of preparation for writing the “Pfahldorfge-schichte.” These two authors differ in their interpretation of Vischer's satirical purpose; Kürbs does not regard the Church as the central target.

52 The illustrations given here might be indefinitely increased. Vischer could not resist, would even create, an opportunity to strike a blow. The following is a characteristic example: soon after the Franco-Prussian War he delivered an address in Stuttgart (2 May, 1872) on “Der Krieg und die Künste”; he admits fear on the part of soldiers as inevitable, but: “Es gibt mehr als einen Weg, sich von dieser Angst zu befreien: Arbeit, Wissenschaft, Kunst, Religion—die reine nämlich, denn die trube macht nur noch mehr Angst” (K.G., 1914, ii. 494).