Goethe's Families of the Heart (New Directions in German Studies #15)

Synopsis

Throughout his literary work Goethe portrays characters who defy and reject 18th and 19th century ideals of aristocratic and civil families, notions of heritage, assumptions about biological connections, expectations about heterosexuality, and legal mandates concerning marriage. The questions Goethe's plays and novels pose are often modern and challenging: Do social conventions, family expectations, and legal mandates matter? Can two men or two women pair together and be parents? How many partners or parents should there be? Two? One? A group? Can parents love children not biologically related to them? Do biological parents always love their children? What is the nature of adoptive parents, children, and families? Ultimately, what is the fundamental essence of love and family? Gustafson demonstrates that Goethe's conception of the elective affinities is certainly not limited to heterosexual spouses or occasionally to men desiring men. A close analysis of Goethe's explication of affinities throughout his literary production reveals his rejection of loveless relationships (for example, arranged marriages) and his acceptance and promotion of all relationships formed through spontaneous affinities and love (including heterosexual, same-sex, nonexclusive, group, parental, and adoptive).

Copyright:

2017

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

Book Size:

224 Pages

ISBN-13:

9781501315770

Related ISBNs:

9781501336072

Publisher:

Bloomsbury Publishing

Date of Addition:

03/06/21

Copyrighted By:

Susan E. Gustafson, 2

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Literature and Fiction, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender, Language Arts

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.