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Oaths of allegiance, theatricality, and Lessing'sNathan der Weise

2008; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 77; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1179/174962808x264652

1749-6284

Edward Batley,

Historical, Literary, and Cultural Studies

The nature is assessed of the obligations imposed on Lessing by the 'Erbhuldigungseid' and the 'Diensteid', which he swore as a condition of appointment to the Herzog August Bibliothek in Wolfenbüttel, and the 'Maurereid', which he took some months later. One aspect of these ceremonial oaths is that, like theatre, they were performed before an audience, pre-arranged or rehearsed, and spoken. Lessing's subsequent behaviour in the light of these obligations, the oaths of which were each sworn on the Bible, is then examined in so far as it is reflected in his correspondence with Carl I, Herzog zu Braunschweig-Lüneburg and Ferdinand, Herzog von Braunschweig, who also held the office of 'Magnus Superior Ordinis' of Strict Observance, and in relation to his publications at the time, notably Ernst und Falk: Gespräche für Freimaurer. One of the questions raised is whether Lessing's sense of theatre played a similar role, in the context of the letters he exchanged with royalty, to the urge to publish. Finally, the dramatic treatment of oaths in Nathan der Weise is considered, from which tentative conclusions are drawn about the unmistakable discrepancies between the specific demands made by the oaths and Lessing's changed attitude towards them.