FRIEDRICH VON SCHILLER

German playwright, poet and historian. Surgeon by training. After the success of the play "The Robbers" (1781), devoted himself entirely to literature, and completed his tragedy "Intrigue and Love" (1783) and "Conspiracy of Fiesco" (1784). In Weimar, wrote a blank verse drama "Don Carlos" (1988) and the ode "To Joy". He was a professor of history Jena University, wrote a "History of the Thirty Years' War" (1789). Schiller was the leading German playwright after the publication of his classic works "Wallenstein" (1796-1799), "Mary Stuart" (1800), "The Maid of Orleans" (1801), "William Tell" (1804).

Schiller was born in an era of enlightened absolutism, traveled while in Europe, including even such tiny states like Wurttemberg Duchy, which was headed by corrupt despot Charles-Eugene. Prosecution was unprecedented. People for one careless word imprisoned for many years, thousands were deported to America, while the court ruled brilliance and luxury.

Despite the harsh climate, the poet, who had a fine psychic organization, could not help but feel a true desire for eternal beauty. In his mind unwittingly awaken vague emotions. He dreamed of. And in his mind against the will appeared miraculously.

In his youth, Schiller wrote a remarkable poem, dedicated to Laura. The biographers of the poet came to the conclusion that it was Petrarch's Laura, the one Laura, who lives and is still in the monument, carved from gorgeous Florentine poet's sonnets! It was her devoted his young Schiller delight, with it, lived up to it for several hundred years, he shared the sad hours of solitude in the silent hours of midnight or in the pale twilight of dealing with the day.

Perhaps the poet is a figment of the imagination, and another character of his works - Minna. True, at first thought was some kind of prototype of Minna Vilgemina Andrea, but then this idea was abandoned. Meanwhile, on her poems feel the beating of the present life, and imagination involuntarily draws fine, but the sinful woman.

However, there was also a real woman, who had some influence on Schiller - Countess Franziska von Hohenheim, Wurttemberg metressa Duke Charles. She had a charming beauty, was gracious and charming. The representative of a poor noble family married a hunchback, but a wealthy baron Leutruma. Unfortunate, but the hump, was destined to be still and horns.

Duke fell in love with a 22-year-old Francis at first sight. To bring the countess to her, he gave her husband a place at court, and the duties of the Baron lay in the fact that he had to go in front of the Duke at a time when the Duke went to his pleasure palace in Ludvigsburge along with his wife. Finally, Baron understood and meekly left the scene, leaving his wife a free hand.

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Francis was an amazing woman. She weaned him from the Duke of wild despotic instincts made him fall in love with comfort of home, get rid of an unquenchable thirst for pleasure and in the end, after the death of the Duchess, to engage her in marriage. The Baroness made a 17-year-old boy a strong impression, besides, Francis was a noble woman. Not surprisingly, Schiller hastened to give her all the advantages created by his imagination, and called it the duke's mistress, in verse, serving her birthday, the embodiment of all virtues! "She - the poet exclaims, referring to Francis - comforted the needy, clothe naked, quenches thirst, nourish the hungry. Sad lilt with one glance at her death and flees to her bed with a timorous patient. "

It was not a passing fad. Schiller remembered for life Francis was the way he saw it in his younger years, as evidenced by his "Intrigue and Love", which is derived the name of Baroness Lady Milford.

When Duke Charles forbade Schiller to engage in literary activities, and even put him under arrest, the poet fled and took refuge from the persecution of despotic Duke at the estate of Henrietta Wolzogen with which Schiller was on friendly terms. It was then that he became friendly with her daughter Charlotte. From his mother hid not love a poet, and she immediately tried to put an end to their romance, since the position of Schiller could not be the key to happiness of her daughter. In addition, the Duke of vindictive, knowing where the poet was hiding, he could vent anger on her sons. She demanded that Schiller left Bauerbah. True, to reason, she allowed him to return. During this second stay in Bauerbahe Schiller finally fell in love with Charlotte. However, she remained completely indifferent to the ardent poet, as her feelings belonged to a military academy student, whom she met in Stuttgart . . .

A few years Shiller became famous, has found a new homeland, friends and fame. His poetic nature and a belief in the noble ideals preserved in his former purity of thought. Schiller had already written "Don Carlos", when I met a beautiful girl, who played a major role in the life and literary career of the great poet.

Charlotte von Marshalk Ostgeym, married Kalb, had a stormy youth. Good education she received, but the lack of a swim this natural intelligence and imagination. Books of all kinds of content - the Bible, the Koran, the writings of Voltaire, Rousseau, Shakespeare, Klopstock, Wieland - served her "boundless reading" - this expression, which was subsequently used to it her favorite, Jean Paul (Richter). In his younger years, Charlotte was not beautiful, but certainly there was some mystery. Back in 1796, Jean Paul wrote about her: "She has two great advantages: large eyes, which I have never seen and a great soul.

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It is as well said as well Herder writes in his letters about humanism. It is full of even a person and if you lift your drooping eyes almost constantly, it's like the moon that look out of the clouds, then again will hide in them. "

Schiller became friends with Charlotte in Mannheim, where she arrived with her husband. Of course, she could not help but notice the passion of the poet, whose sensitivity has been dulled constant communication with women. On the other hand, and Charlotte herself could not help but be influenced by Schiller's poetic personality, which the rest of his life retained a bright memory. "In the prime of life - she wrote later - all being marked by a rich diversity of Schiller, his eyes shone with youthful courage, proud bearing, deep thought, a bold and unexpected proposition - all amazed at it. He listened to me attentively and sympathized with my ideas. For a while he stayed with me, then, taking his hat, said: "I have to go to the theater. " After so, I learned that this evening was his play "Love and Intrigue," and he asked the actors not to mention the name "Kalb" ( one of the actors in this play). Soon he returned happy, joy glistened in his eyes. Do not hesitate to say it openly, with feeling, consciousness, thought followed thought, his speech flowed freely as we are a prophet. Continuing the conversation He was fond, and his fascination with different some femininity, his eyes burned with passion. At the same time that life has just blossomed, and now she's dead. "

At this time, Schiller was suddenly a few ladies of the heart, of which deserve the attention of the actress, who plays Amelia in "Robbers," and Margaret Schwan, educated, beautiful girl, who adored art and literature. Margaret has made it a particularly strong impression, he even decided to marry her. But he wanted to marry and also to Charlotte. In order to understand their feelings, Schiller left Mannheim in Leipzig. But before you leave between the poet and Charlotte Kalb an astonishing scene, characteristic of the same for the characters themselves, but for the whole era of "storm and stress".

"My heart - said Schiller, saying goodbye to Charlotte - lit the flame of your net, you are animated and calmed me. Kinship of our souls to the highest points to the harmony, I know only one thing that we live in the prime of his youth, which provides an explanation of our ardent hearts. But I believe that you do not pay off this flame. From the earliest years, my idea was covered with dark cover, my soul has known suffering, but I heard you, your idea meet me. Our souls are like fire and thread merged. I loved you and was always yours, if I had the courage to love this. But let my heart do not know the passion that I admire and scared.

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Charlotte said: "Ever since I found you, I'm starting to demand more from life than before. Never since I was not so insignificant. You want to break our union? But know that you sent me a fortune, and it pains me to leave with the lighter moments, which she bestowed upon us. Oh, if you were free from worldly cares and not seek fame, which destroys all peace of mind! I have a hard parting, but you are acquainted with solitude, with a divine peace. Hope! Vera! We feel both that those who call his soul, he shall not be separated ever . . . you tell me "you", and I tell you "you"! Truth unfamiliar word "you. " Happy is known only to "you" and that " you "will seal our eternal union!"

The scene was agonizing, and you can imagine, with some relief from Mannheim Schiller left. On his arrival in Leipzig, he immediately wrote to my father Margaret Schwan letter, which requested the hand of his daughter. Alas, bad luck waiting for the poet and here! The old man thought Schwan position of the poet is too vague to agree to this marriage, and sent him a failure.

Later, he settled in Weimar, Schiller saw again with Charlotte and across the old friendly relations were resumed. From the first letter of his to it can be concluded that the approach held in Weimar, complete, and in another letter to poet openly admitted: "My relationship with Charlotte loudly discuss, but in all these conversations and there is no shadow of humiliation for us, even the Duchess Amalia was kind enough to invite us both to itself. The reason for this invitation explained Wieland. Here on these relationships look condescending, and the Duchess herself is not averse to them to patronize. Mr. Kalb (Charlotte's husband) wrote me that he would come in late September ; his friendship to me has not changed, despite the fact that he loves his wife and knows about our relationship. But his self-esteem can suffer from interference by outsiders in this matter and obliging peaching. "

In such circumstances, the best thing to think about divorce, Charlotte. Lovers have discussed this issue, but more than talk it has not moved. Schiller soon wrote to a friend that feels cool to Charlotte. Charlotte explained in his notes that the very fact that she is not divorced, but there were other reasons: firstly, the eccentric Charlotte could be the mistress of Schiller, but not his wife, and secondly, the poet at that time began a new relationship more robust and reasonable, based on the true harmony of souls and ended in marriage. Emotion filled the poet, and he did not hide them even from the most Charlotte, which, of course, further worsened the relationship with her. But there was not a complete rupture, the former lovers are supporting each other correspondence exchanged assurances of eternal friendship.

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As a woman, Charlotte had ceased to exist for Schiller and not resurrected, even when her husband died. Schiller at the time was fully absorbed in the creation of his family home and could not return to the shrine of passion, where there was no rest.

Charlotte ended the life of a very sad: she lost her entire state and also blind. Nevertheless, even in extreme old age she made a compelling impression of her black eyes, a majestic figure, and prophetic speech. She died in 1843 at the age of eighty-two.

In winter 1786 Schiller met the widow of the Saxon officer, Mrs. Arnim, with two daughters. Schiller drew attention to the eldest, Marie-Henriette, beautiful and graceful girl. Schiller met her and even got an invitation to visit her house. Mrs. Arnim was very kind to the poet and even connived at his meeting with her daughter, but at the same time not only served his hopes for her hand, and forbade his daughter to think about it. Later it turned out that Ms. Schiller did not think Arnim appropriate party for her daughter, but was hoping that the love of the famous poet will help raise the prestige of the girls in the eyes of society. The poet never lost hope of mercy practical woman who spent time and money last. Finally, on the advice of friends, Schiller went to parting with my girlfriend suppress their feelings. Charlotte Kalb helped him in this. However, soon forgot his fleeting passion, and Charlotte, he became interested in a girl with whom he had known long ago, but whose virtues have become apparent only after a long fruitless search of the true woman's love and true happiness.

Despite his idealism, Schiller in his heart was judicious and sober man looking for marriage. "The alliance concluded in life - he wrote in 1787, Kerner, - should not be a passion, and if my wife is an extraordinary woman, she will not give me happiness, or I do not recognize myself. I need an obedient creature that I could to make happy and that would be refreshed and renewed my life. " This is my wife, and could be Charlotte von Lengefeld.

Schiller met her back in 1784, when she and her older sister, Caroline, and her mother arrived in Mannheim. The first meeting was short and did not leave any trace in the soul of young people. Getting ensued until three years later, when the poet came to the family, along with other Lengefeld Volnogenom, which was not indifferent older sister Caroline. Chorus, formed a family like Schiller, and he immediately decided that Charlotte would be his wife. "I - he wrote Kerner - requires a medium through which I could enjoy other pleasures. Friendship, truth and beauty will act even more strongly for me when family life is calm I make happy and warm. So far I have wandered through the world, foreign all, all, to whom I was attached, had a more expensive for them to me, and I therefore can not be satisfied - I crave a quiet family life.

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Charlotte at the time was under the impression unrequited love for a young man, whom circumstances prevented her from getting married. It was a quiet, sweet girl, very like a portrait, painted after her older sister: "She was a charming figure and pleasant face. Kindness enlivened her features and her eyes shone with truth and innocence. NATURA it is sensitive to all the beautiful and noble in life and in art, breathing harmony. She was able to draw well and deeply understand the nature. In happier circumstances she could develop her talent, her lofty sentiments in the poems she poured out, one of which, written under the influence of the tender passion is not without grace. " Schiller was unobtrusive, noticed her sadness about the irretrievable past, but frequent meetings with her in the house of a common friend led yet to the fact that among young men struck up a friendship.

When Charlotte had to leave, she gave him an album that he wrote in his poem, and asked to see them in the summer in Rudolstadt.

Some time later, responding to a letter from his new friend, she wrote him a simple but touching words: "Hope to see you easier separation; come soon, good luck and think of me. " Schiller kept his promise and came to Rudolstadt, where he settled near the home of your girlfriend. He spent the evening with her sisters.

"When we - told Carolina - saw him approaching us, illuminated by the evening dawn unfolded before us like a bright ideal life. Talking Schiller was serious, full of intelligence, it reflects the whole of its open, pure soul, listening to him, seemed to walk among the stars of heaven and earth colors. We have imagined ourselves fortunate beings, detached from all earthly ties and free-air elements enjoy complete bliss. " Schiller read together with the sisters of Greek poets, Caroline wrote about it, "Schiller gave us in the evening," Odyssey, "and we thought that we buzzed about new life source. " The sisters asked for his favorite passages translated into German, and Schiller served their request, from Euripides, a relative of his poetic enthusiasm. The consequence of this was his "Iphigenia at Aulis. " Sisters in the same house Lengefeld Schiller first met Goethe, considered one of the significant historic moments in the history of literature. In short, the time spent next to his future wife, was for Schiller, best days in my life.

At the same time, the poet fell in love with an older sister - Caroline, a girl with a fiery temper and insatiable thirst for action. Dichterliebe wore controversial, as Schiller did not separate one from the other sisters, both of them expressing their feelings in the same form.