Charlotte von Stein
Encyclopedia
Charlotta Ernestina Bernadina von Stein (born von Schardt; December 25, 1742, Eisenach
- January 6, 1827) was a lady-in-waiting
at the court in Weimar
and a close friend to both Friedrich Schiller
and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
, whose work and life were strongly influenced by her.
Johann Wilhelm Christian von Schardt and Concordia Elisabeth von Schardt. While her father was a wasteful eccentric, her mother who had had Scottish ancestors was said to be very quiet and dutiful.
Her parents moved to Weimar
when Charlotte was yet a little child and she was prepared for working as a lady-in-waiting. Her education included literature, art, singing and dancing. They said that Charlotte was unobtrusive, witty, graceful and dutiful like her mother was. There were four things she spent most of her time on:
On May 17, 1764, Charlotte married Baron Gottlob Ernst Josias Friedrich Freiherr von Stein (1735-1793). This was not a marriage out of love, but for social and political interests. Often Charlotte remained alone in Weimar, as her husband had to travel a lot, serving the duke of Jena
-Weimar. From 1764 to 1773 she gave birth to seven children. The four daughters died, three boys (Karl, Ernst, Fritz) survived. After her seventh child was born she had to take several cures as she was physically exhausted. She was also the aunt of Amalia von Helvig
, who became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
.
and Charlotte von Stein met in Weimar
. It was the beginning of a deep friendship which lasted for twelve years. During this time she had a strong influence on Goethe′s work and life. Goethe took into his house her eleven-year old son Fritz (her darling), in May 1783, and took over the boy′s education to her satisfaction.
This period of her life might have been the happiest since she was in the center of social life and attention and met many famous personalities, e.g. Friedrich Schiller
, Karl Ludwig Knebel, and Johann Georg Zimmermann. She frequently corresponded with Schiller's wife Charlotte
.
ended with his sudden departure to Italy without even telling her he wanted to go. Not until after 1800 did their relationship began to normalize and even then it never became as close as before.
After her husband had died in 1793 Charlotte retired from society and became more and more lonely.
In 1794 she wrote the drama Dido—a literary self-portrait that also depicted her disappointment about Goethe′s behavior. It reflected the years from 1770 to 1790 and the situation in Weimar at that time.
Charlotte von Stein died on January 6, 1827 in the age of 85.
presented his play "Gespräch im Hause Stein über den abwesenden Herrn von Goethe" (A Discussion in the Stein Home about the Absent Mr. Goethe) in 1974. This monodrama became a worldwide success and is seen as a subtle analysis of the fate of Charlotte von Stein.
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Eisenach
Eisenach is a city in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated between the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest and the Hainich National Park. Its population in 2006 was 43,626.-History:...
- January 6, 1827) was a lady-in-waiting
Lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...
at the court in Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
and a close friend to both Friedrich Schiller
Friedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life , Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe...
and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
, whose work and life were strongly influenced by her.
Childhood
Charlotte′s parents were HofmarschallHofmarschall
The Hofmarschall was the administrative official in charge of a princely German court, supervising all its economic affairs....
Johann Wilhelm Christian von Schardt and Concordia Elisabeth von Schardt. While her father was a wasteful eccentric, her mother who had had Scottish ancestors was said to be very quiet and dutiful.
Her parents moved to Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
when Charlotte was yet a little child and she was prepared for working as a lady-in-waiting. Her education included literature, art, singing and dancing. They said that Charlotte was unobtrusive, witty, graceful and dutiful like her mother was. There were four things she spent most of her time on:
- Society (according to her “profession”)
- Taking cures (she had a weak constitution)
- Literature/Theater/Art (as a part of her social life; her own efforts were not that good)
- Animals (she had various, e.g. cats, dogs and doves)
Profession and family
In 1758 Charlotte became a lady-in-waiting to Anna Amalia, Duchess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach whom she served until the Duchess's death in 1807.On May 17, 1764, Charlotte married Baron Gottlob Ernst Josias Friedrich Freiherr von Stein (1735-1793). This was not a marriage out of love, but for social and political interests. Often Charlotte remained alone in Weimar, as her husband had to travel a lot, serving the duke of Jena
Jena
Jena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
-Weimar. From 1764 to 1773 she gave birth to seven children. The four daughters died, three boys (Karl, Ernst, Fritz) survived. After her seventh child was born she had to take several cures as she was physically exhausted. She was also the aunt of Amalia von Helvig
Amalia von Helvig
Anna Amalia von Helvig was a German and Swedish artist, writer, translator, socialite, Salonist and culture personality. She is known as an inspiration for many artists. She was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts.- Biography :She was born to Baron Carl Christoph von Imhoff and Luise...
, who became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Royal Swedish Academy of Music
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music or Kungl. Musikaliska Akademien, founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
.
Charlotte and Goethe
In 1774 Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
and Charlotte von Stein met in Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
. It was the beginning of a deep friendship which lasted for twelve years. During this time she had a strong influence on Goethe′s work and life. Goethe took into his house her eleven-year old son Fritz (her darling), in May 1783, and took over the boy′s education to her satisfaction.
This period of her life might have been the happiest since she was in the center of social life and attention and met many famous personalities, e.g. Friedrich Schiller
Friedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life , Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe...
, Karl Ludwig Knebel, and Johann Georg Zimmermann. She frequently corresponded with Schiller's wife Charlotte
Charlotte von Lengefeld
Charlotte Luise Antoinette von Schiller, born Charlotte von Lengefeld was the wife of German poet Friedrich Schiller.-Early life:...
.
In the eyes of her contemporaries
Knebel has given an outstanding depiction of von Stein′s nature:Loneliness and death
In 1786 the deep friendship between Charlotte and Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
ended with his sudden departure to Italy without even telling her he wanted to go. Not until after 1800 did their relationship began to normalize and even then it never became as close as before.
After her husband had died in 1793 Charlotte retired from society and became more and more lonely.
In 1794 she wrote the drama Dido—a literary self-portrait that also depicted her disappointment about Goethe′s behavior. It reflected the years from 1770 to 1790 and the situation in Weimar at that time.
Charlotte von Stein died on January 6, 1827 in the age of 85.
Afterlife
The German poet Peter HacksPeter Hacks
Peter Hacks was a German playwright, author, and essayist.Hacks was born in Breslau , Lower Silesia. Displaced by World War II, Hacks settled in Munich in 1947, where he made acquaintance with Thomas Mann and Bertolt Brecht...
presented his play "Gespräch im Hause Stein über den abwesenden Herrn von Goethe" (A Discussion in the Stein Home about the Absent Mr. Goethe) in 1974. This monodrama became a worldwide success and is seen as a subtle analysis of the fate of Charlotte von Stein.
External links
- short biography
- picture of the Von Stein house in Weimar
- Full German Text of Charlotte von Stein's play Dido
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