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Goethe's hidden suffering: insights into the poet's life
On March 7, 2025, Dr. Friedrich Meier at the TU Ilmenau about Goethe's life and his health challenges. Entry 5 euros.
Goethe's hidden suffering: insights into the poet's life
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who is considered one of Germany's most important poets and writers, was also a man whose life was heavily influenced by health problems. This will be particularly highlighted in the upcoming lecture by Dr. med. habil. Friedrich Meier, which will take place on Friday, March 7, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at the TU Ilmenau. Entry is 5 euros. tu-ilmenau.de reports that Dr. Meier will shed more light on the health challenges that Goethe experienced during his life.
Goethe was born on August 28, 1749 in Frankfurt am Main and grew up in a wealthy home. His father was a doctor of law, and his mother also came from a distinguished family. The family attached great importance to a comprehensive education, so Goethe learned various subjects from Latin to natural sciences at an early age. planet-wissen.de emphasizes that Goethe's parents wanted to give him a comprehensive educational experience, which significantly benefited his later literary career.
Goethe's health problems
Despite his talented and complex life, Goethe was by no means fortunate. His life was overshadowed by various serious illnesses, which often limited his creativity and productivity. In a quote to his friend Johann Peter Eckermann, Goethe explained: "I have always been praised as someone who was particularly fortunate... but basically it was nothing but effort and work... in my seventy-five years I never had four weeks of actual comfort." tu-ilmenau.de
In his youth, Goethe contracted tuberculosis and had to abandon his law studies in Leipzig in 1768. This health setback led to the publication of his first volume of poetry during a convalescent vacation in Frankfurt. These early experiences not only shaped his work, but also his perspective on life. core.ac.uk offers a deeper perspective on the impact of Goethe's illnesses on his work.
Influential encounters and literary beginnings
After his recovery, Goethe continued his law studies in Strasbourg, where he also conducted intensive medical studies. There he met important personalities such as Johann Gottfried Herder, who had a significant influence on Goethe's literary development. Goethe later described his personal and artistic relationship with Herder as “the most significant event” of his life.
Goethe worked as a lawyer in Frankfurt, but his passion was literature. He established his fame as a writer with the historical drama “Götz von Berlichingen,” published in 1773. The work describes the inner conflict of a knight who fights for justice and freedom, but ultimately fails, which reflects both Goethe's own life reality and his philosophical reflections. planet-wissen.de
The lecture by Dr. Friedrich Meier promises to shed light on Goethe's complex personality and his life in the area of tension between illness and creative expression. For those interested, this is an opportunity to delve deeper into the life of a man whose shadow is long-lasting not only in literature, but also in science and philosophy.