Goethe's Conversations -(High School Part)-(Revised Edition)

Author: (German) Eckermann
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1978-09-01
Features: Goethe Conversations (High School Edition) (Revised Edition) is one of the required reading series for the new curriculum standards of Chinese language, recommended by the Ministry of Education in the General High School Chinese Curriculum Standards. Goethe Conversations (High School Edition) (Revised Edition) records the mature thoughts and practical experiences of Germany's greatest modern literary figure, Goethe, in his later years. Its content covers philosophy, aesthetics, literary theory, creative practice, as well as daily life and attitudes toward life, making it a "treasure trove of Goethe's thoughts and wisdom." It was praised by the discerning Nietzsche as one of the most important prose works written in German, a classic of world literature that allows readers to savor the words of a wise man and get closer to the world-renowned literary master, Goethe. Goethe is Germany's greatest poet, alongside Homer, Dante, and Shakespeare, collectively known as the four great cultural figures of Europe. The name of Goethe is already familiar to Chinese readers, and his works, such as The Sorrows of Young Werther, Faust, and Wilhelm Meister, are deeply loved by them. Currently, two editions of Goethe's Collected Works have been published in China. At the same time, there is another book that, though not written by Goethe himself, has also gained a large readership in China—Goethe Conversations, compiled by Eckermann. Goethe Conversations is divided into three parts, the first and second parts were published in 1836, and the third part in 1848. The 1830s and 1840s were revolutionary decades in German history. Due to Goethe's skeptical and detached attitude toward revolution, he became a target of attack from the democratic and radical factions. Under these circumstances, this book by Eckermann, which records Goethe's conversations, was naturally met with indifference from critics and the general public. After the 1848 revolution failed, the political situation in Germany changed, and Goethe gained increasing public attention. Especially after the unification of Germany in 1871, Goethe was elevated to the status of an "Olympian god." The book that recorded the conversations of this "saint" thus became the "sacred book." Academia regarded this book as essential reading for studying Goethe, with some experts even treating it as Goethe's own work. Additionally, many scholars have no doubt that the scenes and conversations recorded in the book are absolutely reliable. In summary, from the late 19th century to the 20th century, most scholars viewed Eckermann's book as an objective and faithful record of Goethe's conversations, an absolutely reliable primary source. However, this view contradicts Eckermann's own intentions. In the preface to the first and second parts, he wrote: "Goethe manifests different images in different situations to different people, so for me, I can only modestly say that this is my Goethe." Eckermann was fully aware that the scenes and conversations he recorded were subjective and that the Goethe he portrayed was merely the one he saw, the one he knew, and the one he could express. Although he strove for accuracy, his ultimate goal was not to objectively convey what Goethe said but to erect a grand monument to him. The "conversations" in Goethe Conversations compiled by Eckermann are not the original records of Goethe's conversations but rather "conversations" that have been selected, organized, arranged, and processed by him. The question is, even though the "conversations" of Goethe in the book are not his exact words, some rigorous and authoritative Goethe scholars still consider these "conversations" to be Goethe's original words. They do not do so out of ignorance or carelessness but out of firm conviction. So, why did Eckermann's book have such an effect? To answer this question, we must understand the relationship between Eckermann and Goethe, as well as the process by which Eckermann recorded, processed, and published Goethe's conversations.