William John Niven Phd Thesis
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by William John Niven A thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of St. Andrews Martinmas Term 1983 DECLARATION I William John Niven hereby certify that this thesis which Js approximately 70,000 words in length has been written by me, that it is the record of work carried out by me and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. Date: 24 November 1983 Signature of Candidate: 4160"* I was admitted as a research student under Ordinance No. 12 on 7 October 1980 and as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy on 26 June 1981; the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St. Andrews between 1980 and 1983. Date: 24 November 1983 Signature of Candidate: Aklow CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of St. Andrews and that he is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree. Date: 24 November 1983 Signature of Supervisor: COPYRIGHT In submitting this thesis to the University of St. Andrews I understand that I am giving permission for it to be made available for use in accordance with the regulations of the University Library for the time being in force, subject to any copyright vested in the work not being affected thereby. I also understand that the title and abstract will be published, and that a copy of the work may be made and supplied to any bona fide library or research worker. ABSTRACT THE RECEPTIONOF FRIEDRICH HEBEEL IN GERMANY IN THE ERA OF NATIONAL SOCIALISM The following thesis examines the impact on the interpretation of Hebbel's personality and works of National Socialist ideology and propaganda. It comprises six chapters. The first five of these explore different areas of ideological influence and provide evidence of the nature and extent of this influence. The sixth chapter looks at the reception of Hebbel in the National Socialist theatres and at the growth and development of the Hebbel-Society between 1933 and 1945. The aim of the thesis is primarily to break down the National Socialist view of Hebbel into its constituent parts and to categorise these. An acquaintance with Hebbel's works and beliefs reveals that the National Socialist view of him is largely inaccurate and distortive. The thesis has to explain why the National Socialists developed"a false view of Hebbel. And it has to point as frequently as necessary to the differences between Hebbel as he was in reality and Hebb el as the National Socialists saw him. The thesis does not present National Socialist interpretations as having totally revolutionised Hebbel-reception. In two chapters in particular, the second and the third, it will show how interpretations which were to become characteristic of National Socialist Hebbel-reception were being propagated long before 1933. Nevertheless the National Socialists standardised the picture of Hebbel as a Nordic dramatist who was committed to heroic ideals, anti-Semitic, politically conservative and anti-liberal. The ideal aim of the thesis is to "purify" Hebbel's character, works and beliefs of their association with National Socialist values. At the same time it will be shown how easily and at times almost imperceptibly a writer's views can be altered to make them consistent with those of O. -interpreter. ---------- ACKNOWLEDGEh1ENTS There are many people I should like to thank for making this thesis possible. First and foremost I must thank my supervisor W. N. B. Mullen, whose care in checking scripts, correcting errors and advising on content and presentation is more than greatly appreciated. I should also like to thank the staff of the Hebbel-Museum in 4lesselburen for allowing me unrestricted access to the library and for offering invaluable assistance. The staff of the Theater-Museum in Cologne-Wahn, especially Ute, earn my warmest thanks for finding me accommodation and for other acts of kindness. I must thank Henry Gerlach of Illinois University for suggesting the topic and for giving continual encouragement. The financial support offered by the Isle of Man Education Authority and by the DAAD is also much appreciated. Finally I should like to thank: Frau Lorenzen for making my stay in Wesselburen possible; Herr and Frau Lotharius in Cologne for making my stay in Wahn possible; and, last but not least, Karen for typing the dissertation so swiftly and so well. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION CHAPTER I: NATIONAL SOCIALISM, HEBBEL AND THE PAST 1 Section A: National Socialist reception of the past view of Hebbel 3 Section B: The gulf between Hebbel and his age 16 Section C: Hebbel as solitary and prophet 26 CHAPTERII: NORDIC INTERPRETATIONS 34 . Section A: Pre-1933 development of racial anthropology and early Nordic Hebbel-reception 34 Section B: 1933-1945 Nordic Hebbel-reception 44 Section C: Racial questions in particular dramas 78 CHAPTERIII: ANTI-SEMITIC INTERPRETATIONS 97 Section A: The reception of Judith and Herodes und Mariamne 97- Section B: Hebbel as an anti-Semite 107 Section C: The figure of Benjamin in Der Diamant 115 CHAPTER IV: HEBBEL AND NATIONAL SOCIALIST TRAGIC THEORY 125 Section. A: Origins of National Socialist tragic theory 125 Section B: Hebbel the the heroic 135 and concept'of . CHAPTER V: NATIONAL SOCIALIST ATTITUDES TO HEBBEL'S POLITICAL 150 THOUGHT Section A: Interpretations of Hebbel's pronouncements on politics 150 Section B: The contemporary relevance of Hebbel's plays 174 CHAPTER VI: THE PROMOTION OF HEBBEL UNDER NATIONAL SOCIALISM 191 Section A: Reception of Hebbel in the theatre 191 Section B: The Hebbel-Society under National Socialism 201 CONCLUSION 211 Appendix I 216 Appendix II 218 Footnotes 221 Bibliography 226 INTRODUCTION "Hebbel gehörte zu den von den faschistischen Machthabern besonders gepflegten Klassikern", writes Manfred Michael in his exhaustive study of 1 the reception history of Hebbel's Herodes und Mariamne. The assertion is an accurate one: Hebbel was met with the highest degree of approval between 1933 and 1945. Henry Gerlach, in his catalogue of the contents of the Wesselburen Hebbel-Museum, even refers to a Hebbel renaissance 2 under National Socialism. And in the early years of National Socialist rule, critics talked incessantly of a rebirth of interest in the 3 dramatist, as they did in the case of Schiller. The term "renaissance" is perhaps an overstatement. There had been a surge of interest in Hebbel at the turn of the century. But although that interest waned to a degree, although it was occasionally countered by strong criticism (one 4),. thinks for instance of Brecht's remarks concerning Judith it certainly never died. The Weimar Republic theatres indeed gave Hebbel's plays a generous share of attention. What is indisputable is that National Socialists greeted Hebbel with a far more intense enthusiasm than previous generations. There was a quite ecstatic sense of his contemporary relevance. The National Socialists even attempted, as Gerlach suggests5, to popularise Hebbel. Lavish Hebbel-Weeks in Bochum (1939) and Vienna (1942) sought to affirm Hebbel's national impo .rtance before as wide an audience as possible. The promotion of Hebbel under National Socialism, a promotion in which state organisations and state-controlled press played an active role, raises the question: why was Hebbel cultivated? It will be the primary task of this thesis to explain the reasons. The most basic reason of all of course was his value as propaganda. All dramas promoted in the theatre were cultivated not so much on account of their aesthetic worth as because of their suitability as propaganda. And National Socialist Hebbel criticism, because its assessments were shaped by a 11 - - desire to establish affinities between Hebbel and National Socialism, also had a propagandistic function. One must make it clear at the outset that it was not Hebbel's'personality, writings and beliefs as they really were that inspired the National Socialists to embrace him, but their image of these. At first sight this assertion might seem a little unfair. Is it not the case, in the words of a well-worn metaphor, that it takes "two to make a match"? Surely, one might contend, Hebbel's views are. often similar to those of the National Socialists. After all, he supported Austro-German unification, his dramas do contain heroic elements, he did reject Communism. Certainly, at first glance there are parallels, and since National Socialist critics were seeking parallels, they contented themselves with this first glance. But a closer study of Hebbel exposes these parallels as either merely apparent or as purely external, so that interpretations which see an absolute correspondence are effectively remoilding Hebbel, Nazifying him. It will be another aim in this thesis to provide, when it should prove necessary, precisely this closer study. National Socialist thought, for all the heterogeneity of its ideals and the fragmentation of its ideological system, revolved around a number of central ideas or Schwerpunkte, and when Hebbel was discussed by critics, it was usually in relation to one or other of these central obsessions.