Article Title

Grillparzer's Erny and Lessing's Emilia

Authors

Roy C. Cowen, University of Michigan

Abstract

Similarities between Grillparzer's Erny in Ein treuer Diener seines Herrn and Lessing's Emilia Galotti have already been suggested, albeit somewhat incidentally. In his edition of Grillparzer's works, Rudolf Franz comments on Erny's exclamation in Act II when she discovers Otto waiting for her. ... And when Erny stabs herself at the end of Act III, Franz remarks: "Der Ausgang Ernys erinnert an den der Emilia Galotti und an dessen Vorbild, den Tod der Virginia; jedoch ist die Notlage Ernys zwingender als die der Lessingschen Heldin" (IV, 388). But such annotations, while suggestive, hardly exhaust the similarities, nor do they penetrate to the crux of possible problems.

Recommended Citation

Cowen, Roy C. (1983) "Grillparzer's Erny and Lessing's Emilia," University of Dayton Review: Vol. 16: No. 3, Article 4.
Available at: https://ecommons.udayton.edu/udr/vol16/iss3/4