Finding Meaning in Kliest’s “The Earthquake in Chile”
The Earthquake in Chile by Heinrich Von Kleist is a German short story that is best known for its question of theodicy and whether there is meaning to all events in life. The people of the city are searching for … Continue reading →
Earthquake in Chile
While reading the Earthquake in Chile I was constantly hoping for the best when it came to Jeronimo and Josefa and the life they planned on having together. However, deep down I knew Kleist was not going to write a fairy-tale styled love story, he was writing a critique of sorts. During lecture, we talked […]
The Conundrum Brought on by the Last Line
“Then Don Fernando and Dona Elvira adopted the little stranger as their own son; and when Don Fernando compared Felipe to Juan and thought of how he had acquired both, her felt almost as if he should rejoice.” (33) The … Continue reading →
Kliest: Why to the Holy Mother of God?
While I was reading the Earthquake in Chile, I noticed that Jeronimo has given more glorification to the “Holy Mother of God” (11) than to the “Being that rules above the clouds” (9). If this was read from a religious perspective, the “Holy Mother” and the “Being” are separate beings: one is a human female, while … Continue reading Kliest: Why to the Holy Mother of God? →
“Most People are either stupid or evil, or both”
“Most people are either stupid or evil, or both.” -Mabon Foo Using Mabon’s statement as my guideline, I would like to explore the question: to what extent do the characters behave like “normal” people? In […]
The Use of Veils in The Earthquake in Chile and Lieutenant Gustl
I find both short stories to make considerable use of metaphorical veils, both to hide or to justify acts of morality. These interact with the catastrophes that shape each story, possibly strengthening, creating and altering these veils. I will go through some of the veils that I think are most influential to each story and … Continue reading The Use of Veils in The Earthquake in Chile and Lieutenant Gustl
German Novellen: Kleist, Tieck, Grimm
Video and presentation from Jason Lieblang’s lecture on the 18th & 19th century German Novelle, or short story, focusing on Heinrich von Kleist, Ludwig Tieck, and the Brothers Grimm.
Questions, Questions, and More Questions–The Result of Trying to Interpret German Short Stories
Personally, I find the readings for this week to be particularly interesting. I mean, I never would have thought that I would be writing a scholarly essay on the Grimm Brothers’ fairytale “Little Snow-White”. Reading stories like this, however, has reminded me that even supposedly simple works of art can have a deeper meaning–if you take … Continue reading Questions, Questions, and More Questions–The Result of Trying to Interpret German Short Stories