Study Guide Nathan the Wise
BILLY GUNN AND MATT HILL
Brigham Young University College of Fine Arts and Communications Department of Theatre and Media Arts September 22–October 9, 2004 Pardoe Theatre
Study Guide Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
1729 January 22: Lessing born in Kamenz, Saxony. Biography 1741 June: enters St. Afra, Princes’ School, Meissen. 1746 Autumn: Enters University of Leipzig; student of theology. orn January 22, 1729, 1748 The Young Scholar (Der junge Gelehrte) B Gotthold Ephraim 1749 The Jews (Die Juden) Lessing was the third child of 1751 December: To University of Wittenberg. a Lutheran pastor in Kamenz, 1752 Awarded Master’s degree in April; returns to Saxony. After completing Berlin in November. studies at St. Afra’s school in 1753 Friendship with Moses Mendelssohn. 1755 Miss Sara Sampson Meissen, Lessing was ready 1756 May-August: beginning of a European tour, for the University of Leipzig interrupted by outbreak of Seven Years’ War. at the age of sixteen. During Returns to Leipzig. his years at Leipzig, the young 1758 Returns to Berlin. Lessing became infatuated 1759 Philotas (tragedy in one act) with the local theatre 1760–65 In Breslau; military secretary. Studies classics, theology, and philosophy. community, and although he 1766 Laokoon; Lessing in Berlin. never completed his initial 1767 Minna von Barnhelm; first performance, course in theology, Lessing’s Hamburg, September 30. Lessing named critic writings, both dramatic and for a new National Theater in Hamburg. philosophical, were forever 1767–68 Hamburg Dramaturgy (Hamburgische influenced by religion. Dramaturgie) 1770 May: Librarian in Wolfenbütte. 1772 Emilia Galotti, a tragedy 1776 October: Marries Eva König. 1777 December: New-born son dies. 1778 January 10: Lessing’s wife dies. 1779 Nathan der Weise (Nathan the Wise) 1781 February 15: Lessing dies in Braunschweig.
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Study Guide went to an obscure Frenchman, so he accepted a position as dramaturg for a The Hamburg newly established National Theatre in Hamburg (1767). Dramaturgy Lessing did not want the responsibility of regularly producing new works for the theatre, so he agreed to write a semi-weekly essing is perhaps best remembered by commentary on the theatre’s current L theatre historians for his dramatic productions, which was to include analysis criticism. From 1767 to 1769, he was of both the plays and actors. engaged in an innovative form of criticism He soon abandoned the practice of as the dramaturg for the Hamburg criticizing the actors’ fragile egos, as well as National Theatre. Up to this point, the the unrealistic expectation of producing a title of dramaturg was generally used to publishable journal that went to subscribers define an in-house playwright. But Lessing twice a week. expanded his role to include criticism of After two seasons, the Hamburg the Hamburg Theatre’s productions, as Dramaturgy project was abandoned in well as his general dramatic theories. His November of 1768, but Lessing continued contribution to theatre scholarship may be writing for another year, thereby fulfilling more significant than he is generally given his obligation to subscribers. credit for. For example, Lessing’s w rejection of confining French neoclassical drama and praise of the dramaturgy of William Shakespeare gave Shakespeare a legitimacy that would help to solidify his international reputation.
History After resigning his position as a military secretary in Breslau (1765), Lessing moved to Berlin where he found it difficult to secure employment because of his open criticism of Voltaire. Lessing was then denied the position of Royal Librarian, which
Lessing’s Hamburg Dramaturgy was written in weekly installments from 1767 to 1769 and then published in book form in 1769. Nathan the Wise 3
Study Guide Knights Templar
he Knights Templar were T organized in Jerusalem, 1120. Their order was monastic and adhered to traditional vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity. They answered only to the pope, and handled day-to-day functions internally. This freedom made for rapid expansion and fostered resentment within the church and without. “Having renounced all the pleasures of life, they faced death with a proud indifference; they were the first to attack, the last to retreat, always docile to the voice of their leader, the discipline of the monk being added to the discipline of the soldier. They were thus the terror of the Mohammedans. When taken prisoner, they scornfully refused the freedom offered them on trouble with rival knights and heads of condition of apostasy. This fidelity cost nations. them dear. It has been computed that in The order survived unchanged for less than two centuries almost 20,000 several centuries. But resentment built Templars, knights and sergeants, perished further, and their autonomy was ultimately in war” (New Advent). challenged by Phillip IV of France. Sealed As the Templars grew in power and orders were distributed throughout France spread their influence throughout Europe, to arrest the Templars and seize their they began to expand their power base in holdings simultaneously on October 13, the banking industry. They protected and 1307. False charges of sexual indecency, escorted precious gold and monies as they reinforced by confessions obtained by were transported throughout Europe. This torture, dealt the killing blow. The order additional economic power caused new was dissolved by papal bull in 1312. w
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Study Guide
The Primitive Rule of the Templars
Rule 34: On the Communal Life happens that a harness is given to One reads in the Holy him in charity which is so old Scriptures: Dividebatur that the gold or silver is singulis prout cuique opus tarnished, that the resplendent erat. That is to say that to beauty is not seen by others nor each was given according to pride taken in them: then he may his need. For this reason we have them. But if he is given new say that no-one should be elevated equipment let the Master deal among you, but all should take care of the with it as he sees fit.... sick; and he who is less ill should thank God Rule 70: On Sisters and not be troubled; and let whoever is worse The company of women is a humble himself through his infirmity and not dangerous thing, for by it the old become proud through pity. In this way all devil has led many from the members will live in peace. And we forbid straight path to Paradise. anyone to embrace excessive abstinence; but Henceforth, let not ladies be firmly keep the communal life.... admitted as sisters into the house Rule 52: That No Brother May Have an of the Temple; that is why, very Ornate Bridle dear brothers, henceforth it is not We utterly forbid any brother to have gold or fitting to follow this custom, that silver on his bridle, nor on his stirrups, nor on the flower of chastity is always his spurs. That is, if he buys them; but if it maintained among you. w
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Study Guide Saladin
very act of the warrior-hero Saladin was inspired by an E intense and unwavering devotion to jihad, or holy war— the Muslim equivalent of the Christian Crusades. It was an essential part of his policy to encourage the growth and spread of Muslim religious institutions. Saladin succeeded in turning the military balance of power in his favor more by uniting and disciplining a great number of unruly forces than by employing new or improved military techniques. However, long campaigning seasons and endless hours in the saddle caught up with him. When he died, relatives scrambled for pieces of the empire. Meanwhile, his friends found that the most powerful and generous ruler in the Muslim world had not left enough money to pay for his burial. w Salah Ad-din Yusuf Ibn Ayyub, “Righteousness of the Faith, Joseph, Son of Job” (1138–93) Crusades Timeline
1095 Council of Clermont; Pope 1193 Death of Saladin. Urban II issues call for 1202–04 Fourth Crusade, originally Crusades. against Egypt, diverted to 1097–99 First Crusade. Byzantium. Second Crusade (King 1203 Crusaders take Conrad III and Louis VII). Constantinople for the first 1171 Saladin, son of Kurdish time. leader Eijub, overthrows 1212 Children’s Crusade. Fatmid dynasty in Egypt. 1218–21 Fifth Crusade. 1185 Saladin unites Egypt with 1228–29 Sixth Crusade. Damascus, Aleppo, and 1244 Muslims retake Jerusalem. Mosul. 1248–54 Seventh Crusade. 1187 City of Jerusalem falls to 1270–72 Eighth Crusade. Saladin. 1291 Last Crusader base, Acre, 1189–99 Reign of Richard Coeur de lost to Sultan Al Ashraf. End Lion, King of England. of Kingdom of Jerusalem. 1189–92 Third Crusade.
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Study Guide Moses Mendelssohn: AKA Nathan
essing based the character of Nathan Lessing, dramatist, literary critic, and L on his friend Moses Mendelssohn, advocate of enlightened toleration in grandfather of Felix, and Germany’s most Germany. With Lessing’s encouragement, prominent 18th century Jewish scholar. Mendelssohn began to publish Mendelssohn was the first Jew to bring philosophical essays. secular culture to At the height of his orthodox Jewish life. career, in 1769, He valued reason and Mendelssohn was felt that anyone could publicly challenged by arrive logically at a Christian apologist, a religious truths. He Zurich pastor named argued that what John Lavater, to makes Judaism defend the superiority unique is its divine of Judaism over revelation of a code of Christianity. From law. He wrote many then on, he defended philosophical Judaism in print. In treatises, and he is 1783 he published considered the father Jerusalem, or On Religious of the Jewish Power and Judaism. Enlightenment. Mendelssohn Mendelssohn was Moses Mendelssohn wanted to take Jews born in the German out of the ghetto and state of Dessau on September 6, 1729. He into secular society. He translated the was the son of a Torah scribe, and his Bible into German. He campaigned for family was poor but learned. As a child, he emancipation, and instructed Jews to form suffered from a disease that left him with a bonds with gentile governments. He tried curvature of the spine. to improve the relationship between Jews In addition to learning German and and Christians as he argued for tolerance Hebrew in Berlin, Mendelssohn studied and humanity. He became the symbol of French, Italian, English, Latin and Greek. the Jewish Enlightenment, the Haskalah. w He also took up other secular subjects in which he excelled, including mathematics, logic, and philosophy. In the mid-1750s, he developed friendships with philosopher Immanuel Kant and also with Gotthold Nathan the Wise 7
Study Guide
“Each of us is an individual. Each of us is different. There must be respect for those differences.... We must work harder to build mutual respect, an attitude of forbearance, with tolerance one for another regardless of the doctrines and philosophies which we may espouse. Concerning these you and I may disagree. But we can do so with respect and civility.”
—GORDON B. HINCKLEY, 1997 Study Guide Bibliography
Text: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotthold_Lessing www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=666 Glossary 97 www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/ BREVIARY: a book that contains hymns, psalms, mon27.html and prayers prescribed for each day. www.newadvent.org/cathen/14493a.htm www.ordotempli.org CLOISTER: a place where people live a life of www.templarhistory.com religious seclusion and contemplation—for www.usisrael.org/jsource/biography/men delssohn.html example, a monastery or convent. Brown, F. Andrew. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. New York: Twayne, 1971. DERVISH: a member of any of several ascetic Hinckley, Gordon B. Teachings of Islamic religious groups, some of which are Gordon B. Hinckley. Salt Lake City: known for entering trances through energetic 1997. dancing, whirling, chanting, or singing. Images: DINAR: a valuable gold coin, used in the past in en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Lessing_ the Middle East. signature.png gutenberg.spiegel.de/lessing/hamburg/ DJELLABA: a long, loose-fitting robe with sleeves hamb001.htm and a hood, worn by men in North Africa, www.henry-davis.com/MAPS especially in Islamic countries. www.people.freenet.de/miscellanea/ Mendelssohn_Titel.htm www.scathach.de/dore/crusades IMAM: a recognized leader or a religious teacher in Islam. www.tak.li/02-03/schauspiel/nathan. html Miller, David. Brassey’s Book of the SWABIA: medieval duchy in southwestern Germany. Crusades. Washington: 2001.
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