Goethe and Rousseau

Download or read book Goethe and Rousseau written by Carl HammerJr. and published by University Press of Kentucky. This book was released on 2014-07-15 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The profound impact of Jean-Jacques Rousseau on Western thought has been frequently examined, yet the extent of Goethe's relationship to Rousseau has never before received thorough study. Carl Hammer Jr. here analyzes Goethe's works, paying particular attention to his mature production, to reveal the profound affinities of thought between these two European giants. Scholars have long recognized the direct influence of Rousseau on Goethe's first novel, Werther, but have believed that Goethe's enthusiasm waned thereafter. Hammer, in contrast, finds the affinity revealed even more strongly in Goethe's later works.