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Shakespeare's "World History": J. G. Herder's "Sturm und Drang" Drama Theory and the Radical Enlightenment

Feng Qing   

  1. the School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China
  • Online:2018-11-25 Published:2019-03-24
  • About author:Feng Qing is a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at the School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China. His research interest covers aesthetics and history of literary thoughts.
  • Supported by:
    China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2018T110175) 

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Abstract: Influenced by Johann Gottfried Herder and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the German "Sturm und Drang" movement regarded William Shakespeare as a model of gifted drama poets. Viewing Shakespeare as a "genius" in imagination for the possible "world history", Herder applied pantheistic philosophy to his drama theory and developed a concept of radical enlightenment. Comparing Herder's view with Gotthold Ephraim Lessing's interpretation of Shakespeare as well as his Aristotelian enlightenment dramatic idea, a great difference can be revealed: Lessing aimed to cultivate civic morality, while Herder intended to evoke the Volk's passion towards freedom and political action.

Key words: Herder, Lessing, Shakespeare, Sturm und Drang, the Enlightenment