Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872) was Austria’s preeminent playwright, widely regarded as the country’s greatest. His well-crafted dramas, delving into sentiment and psychological conflict, are celebrated for exploring historical and psychological themes within the backdrop of Austrian Romanticism.
Born in Vienna, Grillparzer pursued a legal education at the University of Vienna and subsequently dedicated much of his life to government service. Commencing as a clerk in the revenue department in 1814, he progressed to become a treasury clerk in 1818, eventually attaining the position of director of the treasury archives. Despite his aspirations for higher roles, they remained unfulfilled, prompting his retirement from government service in 1856.
Among his notable works, Sappho (1818) stands out as a tragedy depicting the struggles of the ancient Greek poetess. Das Goldene Vlies (1821; The Golden Fleece) is another significant historical drama in his repertoire. Grillparzer’s exploration of human nature’s intricacies, blending classical themes with Romantic sensibilities, characterizes his writing.
His acclaimed tragedies include Des Meeres und der Liebe Wellen (1831; The Waves of Sea and Love) and Der Traum ein Leben (1834; A Dream Is Life.) Noteworthy is Libussa (1831,) a play rooted in Czech mythology, showcasing his penchant for exploring diverse cultural and historical contexts. Posthumously completed, Die Jüdin von Toledo (1872; The Jewess of Toledo) is another significant work that exemplifies his examination of religious and cultural tensions.
Despite an initial period of success, Grillparzer encountered critical backlash, prompting him to withdraw from the literary scene. However, his tragedies eventually gained recognition as the pinnacle of Austrian stage works.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Franz Grillparzer
As youth lives in the future, so the adult lives in the past: No one rightly knows how to live in the present.
—Franz Grillparzer
Topics: Youth
What is the use of aesthetics if they can neither teach how to produce beauty nor how to appreciate it in good taste? It exists because it behooves rational human beings to provide reasons for their actions and assessments. Even if aesthetics are not the mathematics of beauty, they are the proof of the calculation.
—Franz Grillparzer
The cradle of the future is the grave of the past.
—Franz Grillparzer
Topics: Future, The Future
Oh that wisdom was half as zealous for converts as ridicule.
—Franz Grillparzer
Doubt breeds doubt.
—Franz Grillparzer
Topics: Uncertainty, Confidence, Doubt
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