The elusiveness of tolerance: the "Jewish question" from Lessing to the Napoleonic WarsPeter Erspamer explores the 'Jewish question' in German literature from Lessing's Nathan der Weise in 1779 to Sessa's Unser Verkehr in 1815. He analyzes the transition from an enlightened emancipatory literature advocating tolerance in the late eighteenth century to an anti-Semitic literature with nationalistic overtones in the early nineteenth century.Erspamer examines Nathan in light of Lessing's attempts to distance himself from the excesses of his own Christian in-group through pariah identification, using an idealized member of an out-group religion as a vehicle to attack the dominant religion. He also focuses on other leading advocates of tolerance and explores changes in Jewish identity, particularly the division of German Jewry into orthodox Jews, adherents of the Haskalah, and converted Jews. The tolerance discourse ended with the Napoleonic incursions into Germany, when nationalism was on the rise and Judaism came to be viewed in racial as well as religious terms. |
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Contents
The Beginnings of the Tolerance Debate | 32 |
Jewish Identity in a Changing World | 64 |
Emancipatory Drama after Lessing | 98 |
Copyright | |
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advocates argues Arndt Ascher assimilation attempts Aufklarung authoritarian belief Berlin bourgeois Buchholz century character concept consensus formation constitution critical discourse culture Deism Diez Dohm Dohm's drama economic elements Enlightenment equal exogamy expression feels Friedlander Friedrich Gentiles German gion Goeze Gott Grattenauer Haskalah hatred Herz History of Anti-Semitism Horkheimer and Adorno human humor Ibid ideology ingroup ingroup identification Jewish community Jewish emancipation Jewish question Jews Judaism Juden laughter laws Lessing's critical Lessings Nathan linguistic Lotich maintains Marcus Herz Maskilim Menschen minority Monch monk moral Moses Mendelssohn mystical Nathan der Weise Natural Religion oppression orthodox Christianity outgroup pariah Pfranger philosopher play Poliakov political portrayal portrayed prejudices principles promote propaganda Rahel Varnhagen rationalistic reason Recha reformation religious Ring Parable rules of exclusion Saladin Saul Ascher Sessa social society status teachings thereby tion tolerance traditional Tralles travestier truths unsere Verkehr viewed Voss Voss's Wessels Wessely writing wuchernde Jude Zeit