Elective Affinities
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| {{Template}}'''''Elective Affinities''''' (German: ''Die Wahlverwandtschaften'') is an [[1809]] novel written by [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]], the title of which is a term once used for the tendency of [[chemical]] [[element]]s to combine with certain substances or species in preference to others. The novel is based on the metaphor of human [[passion (emotion)|passions]] being governed or regulated by the [[chemical affinity|laws of chemical affinity]], and examines whether or not the science and laws of chemistry undermine or uphold the institution of [[marriage]], as well as other human social relations. | {{Template}}'''''Elective Affinities''''' (German: ''Die Wahlverwandtschaften'') is an [[1809]] novel written by [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]], the title of which is a term once used for the tendency of [[chemical]] [[element]]s to combine with certain substances or species in preference to others. The novel is based on the metaphor of human [[passion (emotion)|passions]] being governed or regulated by the [[chemical affinity|laws of chemical affinity]], and examines whether or not the science and laws of chemistry undermine or uphold the institution of [[marriage]], as well as other human social relations. | ||
| - | + | == Theme == | |
| + | The book is situated around the city of [[Weimar]]. Goethe’s main characters are Eduard and Charlotte, an aristocratic couple both in their second marriage, enjoying an [[idyllic]] but semi-[[dull]] life on the grounds of their rural estate, who invite the Captain, Eduard’s childhood friend, and Ottilie, the beautiful, orphaned, coming-of-age daughter of Charlotte’s deceased best-friend to live with them. The decision to invite Ottilie and the Captain is described as an "[[experiment]]" and this is exactly what it is. The house and its surrounding gardens are described as "a chemical retort in which the human elements are brought together for the reader to observe the resulting reaction." | ||
| == Beauty == | == Beauty == | ||
| [[Beauty]] according to [[Goethe]], from his 1809 ''Elective Affinities'', is “everywhere a welcome guest”. Goethe stated that human beauty “acts with far greater [[force]] on both inner and outer senses, so that he who beholds it is exempt from [[evil]] and feels in harmony with himself and with the world.” | [[Beauty]] according to [[Goethe]], from his 1809 ''Elective Affinities'', is “everywhere a welcome guest”. Goethe stated that human beauty “acts with far greater [[force]] on both inner and outer senses, so that he who beholds it is exempt from [[evil]] and feels in harmony with himself and with the world.” | ||
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Theme
The book is situated around the city of Weimar. Goethe’s main characters are Eduard and Charlotte, an aristocratic couple both in their second marriage, enjoying an idyllic but semi-dull life on the grounds of their rural estate, who invite the Captain, Eduard’s childhood friend, and Ottilie, the beautiful, orphaned, coming-of-age daughter of Charlotte’s deceased best-friend to live with them. The decision to invite Ottilie and the Captain is described as an "experiment" and this is exactly what it is. The house and its surrounding gardens are described as "a chemical retort in which the human elements are brought together for the reader to observe the resulting reaction."
Beauty
Beauty according to Goethe, from his 1809 Elective Affinities, is “everywhere a welcome guest”. Goethe stated that human beauty “acts with far greater force on both inner and outer senses, so that he who beholds it is exempt from evil and feels in harmony with himself and with the world.”
References in culture
- In 1933, René Magritte executed a painting entitled "Elective Affinities".
- In French New Wave director François Truffaut's 1962 movie "Jules et Jim", a lead character is shown reading the book.
- It was filmed in 1996 by director Paolo Taviani as Le affinità elettive.
See also
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Elective Affinities" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
