Kleist ww2

1. Birth and Early Life
2. A Journey of Doubt and Artistic Awakening
3. First Literary Endeavors and a Burning Manuscript
4. A Return to Germany and Literary Flourishing
5. A Triumph in Comedy and Tragedy
6. A Political Turn and a Literary Struggle
7. Despair and a Final Masterpiece
8. A Tragic End

Birth and Early Life

Bernd Heinrich Wilhelm von Kleist, the renowned German writer, was born on October 18, 1777, in Frankfurt an der Oder. At the age of fifteen, he joined the military, only to leave in 1799 and pursue mathematics and philosophy at the University of Frankfurt an der Oder.

A Journey of Doubt and Artistic Awakening

After three semesters of intense study, Kleist came to believe that all knowledge was relative. He embarked on a wandering lifestyle, grappling with the unknowability of human destiny. As reason failed to provide answers, he turned to art as an outlet.

First Literary Endeavors and a Burning Manuscript

Kleist's literary debut was the play "Die Familie Schroffenstein," which he rejected before its publication in 1803. He then began work on "Robert Guiscard," only to burn the manuscript after a year and a half, joining the Napoleonic army in preparation for an invasion of Britain.

A Return to Germany and Literary Flourishing

In 1804, Kleist returned to Berlin in poor health. He reworked Molière's comedy "Amphitryon" and wrote the realistic comedy "Der zerbrochene Krug." During this time, he also ventured into novella writing.

A Triumph in Comedy and Tragedy

In "Der zerbrochene Krug," Kleist's dramatic genius shone brightly. Here, characters drove the action, not chance. The comedy paved the way for the tragedy "Penthesilea," based on the myth of the Amazon queen. Subsequently, he penned the romantic fairy tale "Kätchen von Heilbronn."

A Political Turn and a Literary Struggle

Kleist, inspired by the memory of "Robert Guiscard," intended to complete it but instead wrote the poetic drama "Prinz Friedrich von Homburg." He settled in Berlin and advocated for German unity against Napoleon in the play "Die Hermannschlacht." However, Prussia's alliance with Napoleon hindered its production, and his journalism faced similar obstacles.

Despair and a Final Masterpiece

In 1810, Kleist published a volume of novellas, featuring his masterpiece "Michael Kohlhaas." The stories were characterized by dramatic concision and vivid action, but their protagonists were victims of relentless fate and circumstance.

A Tragic End

Haunted by despair, Kleist took his own life near Potsdam on November 21, 1811. He left behind a legacy of powerful and thought-provoking works that continue to resonate with readers today.