Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Poet

August 28, 1749 Frankfurt, Germany

March 22, 1832 Weimar, Germany

Christiane Vulpuis (m. 1806–1816)

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a key personality in the list of German writers and polymaths. He is regarded as the supreme genius of modern German literature. His literary works include epic as well as lyric poetry which he wrote in different styles, dramas of diverse kinds as well as his autobiography. He also contributed to botany and anatomy. Though he was quite conservative, as well as a devout Christian, he firmly opposed many teachings of the Christian churches and said that there were a lot of differences between Christian theology and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Goethe was also deeply involved in politics. During the French Revolution, he felt that the enthusiasm of the people was nothing more than a perversion of their energy and refused to accept that the people had the ability to govern themselves. He never wrote nationalistic poems though he was requested to do so several times. He felt that doing so would only incite hate between the German and the French, and he never hated the French. Many well-known philosophers such as Friedrich Hegel, Carl Jung and Ludwig Wittgenstein were inspired by the works of Goethe.