Historische Hintergründe Sturm Und Drang

Sturm und Drang (Sturm und Drang), often translated as "Storm and Stress," was a significant literary and cultural movement in Germany during the late 18th century. Understanding its historical context is crucial to appreciating its radical departure from the Enlightenment and its profound impact on German literature, art, and philosophy. This article provides a clear overview of the historical backdrop that gave rise to this passionate and revolutionary era.

The Sociopolitical Landscape of 18th Century Germany

To understand Sturm und Drang, one must first grasp the fragmented and often frustrating sociopolitical situation in 18th-century Germany. Unlike England or France, Germany was not a unified nation-state. Instead, it was comprised of hundreds of independent states, principalities, free cities, and ecclesiastical territories within the Holy Roman Empire. This political fragmentation led to:

Limited Political Power: The Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire held little real power. Rulers of the individual states exercised significant autonomy, often prioritizing their own interests over any sense of national unity.
Economic Stagnation: The lack of a unified economic policy hindered trade and industrial development. Each state had its own tariffs, regulations, and currency, creating barriers to internal commerce.
Social Hierarchy: German society was rigidly hierarchical. The aristocracy held immense power and privilege, while the vast majority of the population – peasants, artisans, and burgeoning middle class – faced limitations and lacked social mobility.
Cultural Dependence: The German elite often looked to France for cultural inspiration, imitating French fashions, language, and artistic styles. This cultural dependence fostered a sense of inferiority among German intellectuals and artists.

This sociopolitical climate fostered a sense of discontent and frustration, particularly among the emerging middle class and young intellectuals who yearned for greater political participation, economic opportunity, and cultural autonomy.

The Influence of the Enlightenment

The Enlightenment, with its emphasis on reason, individual rights, and scientific inquiry, profoundly influenced 18th-century Europe, including Germany. Key Enlightenment ideas included:

Rationalism: The belief that reason is the primary source of knowledge and the ultimate guide to human conduct.
Individualism: The emphasis on the individual's autonomy, rights, and freedoms.
Natural Rights: The idea that individuals possess inherent rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and property, which governments cannot legitimately infringe upon.
Progress: The belief in the possibility of human progress through the application of reason and science.

While Sturm und Drang acknowledged the importance of individual freedom, it vehemently rejected the Enlightenment's excessive reliance on reason and its perceived suppression of emotion and intuition. The Stürmer und Dränger (members of the Sturm und Drang movement) believed that the Enlightenment's rationalism led to a sterile and artificial view of human nature, neglecting the power of passion, instinct, and individual experience. They also criticized the Enlightenment's emphasis on universal principles, arguing that it failed to account for the uniqueness and diversity of human cultures and experiences.

The Rise of Pietism

Pietism, a religious movement that emerged in the late 17th century, also played a significant role in shaping the intellectual climate that led to Sturm und Drang. Pietism emphasized:

Personal Religious Experience: A focus on individual piety, emotional connection to God, and experiential faith, rather than rigid adherence to dogma.
Moral Reform: A commitment to social justice, education, and the alleviation of suffering.
Rejection of Religious Formalism: A critique of the perceived coldness and formality of established churches.

Although Sturm und Drang was not explicitly a religious movement, it shared Pietism's emphasis on individual experience, emotional intensity, and the rejection of traditional authority. The Stürmer und Dränger adopted Pietism's focus on personal feeling and translated it into a broader emphasis on the importance of emotion in all aspects of human life, including art, literature, and politics.

The Influence of Jean-Jacques Rousseau

The writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a Genevan philosopher, had a profound impact on the Sturm und Drang movement. Rousseau's ideas, particularly his concept of the "noble savage" and his critique of civilization, resonated deeply with the young German intellectuals. Key Rousseauian concepts included:

The Noble Savage: The idea that humans are inherently good in their natural state but are corrupted by civilization and social institutions.
Emphasis on Feeling: A celebration of emotion, intuition, and the natural instincts over reason and social conventions.
Critique of Social Inequality: An analysis of the social and economic inequalities that arise in civilized societies.

Sturm und Drang embraced Rousseau's critique of civilization and his celebration of nature and individual feeling. The Stürmer und Dränger saw the Enlightenment as perpetuating the very social and intellectual constraints that Rousseau had denounced. They sought to liberate themselves from these constraints by embracing their emotions, celebrating their individuality, and returning to a more authentic and natural way of life.

Key Figures and Works

Several key figures emerged during the Sturm und Drang period, shaping its literary and artistic landscape. Prominent figures included:

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: His early works, such as Götz von Berlichingen and The Sorrows of Young Werther, captured the spirit of Sturm und Drang with their passionate characters, rebellious themes, and exploration of individual suffering.
Friedrich Schiller: His early plays, such as The Robbers and Intrigue and Love, challenged social conventions, celebrated individual freedom, and explored the themes of rebellion and revolution.
Jakob Michael Reinhold Lenz: Known for his plays, such as The Soldiers and The Tutor, which depicted the struggles of ordinary people against oppressive social structures.
Gottfried August Bürger: Famous for his ballads, such as Lenore, which explored themes of death, the supernatural, and the power of emotion.

These writers, through their works, expressed the Sturm und Drang's central themes: the celebration of individual genius, the rejection of rationalism, the exploration of intense emotions, and the critique of social injustice.

The Legacy of Sturm und Drang

Although the Sturm und Drang movement was relatively short-lived (lasting roughly from the 1760s to the 1780s), it had a profound and lasting impact on German literature, art, and philosophy. Its legacy includes:

The Development of German Romanticism: Sturm und Drang paved the way for the later Romantic movement, which further emphasized emotion, imagination, and the individual's relationship with nature.
The Rise of German National Identity: By rejecting French cultural dominance and celebrating German language, history, and folklore, Sturm und Drang contributed to the development of a distinct German national identity.
Emphasis on Individual Freedom: The movement's emphasis on individual freedom and rebellion against authority inspired future generations of artists and intellectuals to challenge social conventions and fight for greater social justice.
Influence on European Literature: Sturm und Drang influenced writers across Europe, inspiring them to explore new themes, experiment with new literary forms, and challenge the dominant Enlightenment worldview.

In conclusion, the historical context of Sturm und Drang reveals a complex interplay of sociopolitical frustrations, intellectual currents, and artistic aspirations. By understanding the fragmented political landscape of 18th-century Germany, the influence of the Enlightenment and Pietism, and the impact of Rousseau's ideas, we can better appreciate the revolutionary spirit and lasting legacy of this pivotal movement in German cultural history. Sturm und Drang marked a turning point, shifting the focus from reason to emotion, from universal principles to individual experience, and from social conformity to rebellious self-expression.