Imran Abdullah
"Ah, M. von Goethe the great German poet, the author of the pain of Frater," the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte exclaimed when he was told that Goethe was waiting outside the door during the emperor's breakfast on a morning in Weimar German occupied by the French under his command.
Just as Ibn Khaldun met with Timor-Lank, the German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe met with Napoleon Bonaparte, who wanted to draw closer to the German cultural elite and enhance his reputation as a friend of art and literature. Who occupied his country as a "human being" and later expressed sympathy for him.
This meeting between Napoleon and Goethe - who was twenty years older than him and whose fame was already known when Napoleon came to power in France - marked an important chapter in the relationship between the intellectual and the state, especially the foreign invading authority, and witnessed a literary discussion of the "Porter's Passion" , And included many paradoxes revealed much about the literary and political life in 19th century Europe.
The emperor was impressed by the pain of Frater
Napoleon asked to meet the German poet, and when he arrived he told his assistant "Let him enter immediately." After a moment Napoleon was still sitting on the table, and everyone's eyes turned toward the door.
Napoleon continued to eat as Goethe entered, gesturing with his hand, pointing to Goethe as he approached. When the German poet obeyed and stood at the table opposite the emperor, the latter looked up and then to his companion and pointed to Goethe saying, "Ah, this is a man!" Goethe smiled faintly and bowed in silence.
"How old are you, M. von Goethe?" Asked Napoleon.
"Sir, I am in my sixtieth year."
"In your 60th year, however, you have a young appearance!" Ah, it's clear that constant communication with music has given you extra youth. "
"Sir, this is true," said French military commander Daru, who was present. "Goethe's message is springing up with youth, beauty and grace, and Germany rightly describes it as its greatest poet.
"I think you have also written tragedies?" Asked Napoleon interrupting.
Goethe replied, smiling, "Sir, some attempts have been made. But the applause of my countrymen can not overshadow the modest real value of my dramatic work. I think it is very difficult, if not impossible, to write a German poet, Its place on the stage, I must admit that my tragic work does not meet the requirements of the art of tragedy. "
"Sir, also, Goethe translated (Muhammad) Voltaire," Darrow said once again, directing his speech to Napoleon.
"This is not a good tragedy," Napoleon replied. "Voltaire has erred in history and the spirit of humanity. He has distorted Mohammed's personality through simple plots. He presents the most revolutionary man in the world as if he were a notorious criminal worthy of gallows."
Goethe was known for his rich cultural relations with Islam. He came with an open-minded view of the Arab-Islamic culture. In 1814, Goethe wrote his book "The Eastern Diwan of his Western Author," which linked the spiritual east to the pragmatic west. When he published his book, It is said that I am a Muslim. "
I have read it many times, and it has always given me the highest levels of pleasure. The novel accompanied me to Egypt and during my campaigns in Italy, so I must come back with the poet who has given me enjoyable hours. "
"Sir, Your Majesty, you are doing me enough," said Goethe, bending slightly.
But he added: "Farther is actually a work full of lofty ideas. It contains noble views of life. It depicts the tiredness and disgust that all the kind, pure-minded people must feel when forced to leave their domain and communicate with the world. You have described the suffering of your hero with irresistible eloquence , And perhaps no poet did a technical analysis of love better than I did. "
"But let me tell you that you were not completely consistent at work, but make your hero die not only because of love, but also because of the wounded ambition, and explicitly stated that the injustice suffered by the hero at the hands of his superiors was a bleeding wound continuously, Even in the presence of the woman he loved so passionately, and this is not entirely normal and weakens the understanding of the effect that love has on Farther in the reader's mind.
"I found a mistake in something that no one has reproached me so far, and I admit that your criticism shocked me, but this is just and deserved, and the poet may excuse him by using a literary ploy that can not be used," he said. Easily discovered in order to produce a particular effect that he believes he is unable to achieve in a simple, natural or non-trivial manner. "
Napoleon nodded gratefully. "Fretter's pain is a heart drama, and there is nothing comparable to it," he said. "After reading it, I am convinced that your profession is to write messages in this manner because your tragic reflections are the favorite companion of the greatest poet, and the tragedy is at all times a school of great men and it is the duty of the kings to encourage, nurture and reward them. We need only to know human nature, life and reason, and the tragedy unleashes the heart and elevates the spirit and can - or should - create heroes. "
"I am convinced that France is the city of the works of Pierre Corne (a French playwright known for his tragic comic plays) to make many of her great men and if I were alive I would make him an emir," Napoleon said.
"Certainly, Pierre Corney deserved it, because he was a poet in the noble sense, and he was a master of the ideas and principles of modern civilization," he said. "He does not make his heroes die as a result of a decree, but they always carry Seeds of ruin or death for themselves, it is natural and rational death, not artificial death. "
"Let us not speak more about the Ancients and Capricorn (Caprice)," cried Napoleon. "They belong to a darker era, political superiority is our modern ability, our tragedies must be a school for politicians and statesmen, this is the highest summit that poets can reach."
Napoleon suggested to Goethe to write about Caesar's death. "It seems to me that you can look better than Voltaire's, and that may become the noblest thing in your life, and you must prove to the world how much happiness and prosperity Caesar has had if he had the time More to carry out his overall plans, what do you think of Goethe? "
Goethe said with a polite smile, "Your Majesty, I would rather write the life of the tsar and his profession, and in order to do that, I should not be in the influence of a model." His eyes met the emperor's eyes, and they understood each other well, so they smiled.
"You must go to Paris," Napoleon shouted. "I insist you do that, there you will find abundant stories to write your tragic work."
"Your Majesty offers contemporary poets, wherever they are, abundant material," he said. "Napoleon must go to Paris," he repeated. "We will meet again."
Goethe understood the hint and slipped off the table. Napoleon then addressed a question to Marshal Salt, who entered at the moment. The poet withdrew without a big farewell, and the Emperor's eyes followed him and turned to his glitter, which he liked. "This is a man!"
Poet and emperor
Napoleon succeeded in becoming the first emperor of France after the revolution that overthrew the monarchy in 1789, which unites vast parts of Europe by force. After France's victory over Austria and its allies, Napoleon received a hero's welcome in Paris, which piled his political ambitions into power.
In May 1804, France declared an empire, which included France, Italy, parts of Belgium, Germany, Austria and Russia.
Napoleon became an emperor who ruled large parts of Europe in the middle of his fourth decade, yet his ambition was unlimited. He continued his military campaigns and launched his third war against the Allies (Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Russia and Britain). In the winter of 1805 he won the Battle of Austerlitz, And placed the allies, and the imposition of protection on Spain and make it under the command of his brother, before the start of the retreat that ended with isolation and exile.
During Napoleon's 1808 campaign in Germany, his favorite author Goethe visited Weimar and again in Erfurt, and the British historian Andrew Roberts wrote about the meeting between Napoleon and Goethe, demonstrating the ability of the French Emperor to have a literary conversation.
Born on August 28, 1749 in Frankfurt, Germany, to a well-to-do family known for his music, literature and science, Goethe was born and raised in his most important works, such as Faust, Varte and The Prilchingen Idol.