Goethes Magical Philosophy and Possession of Nature Essay -- Goethe

Goethes Magical Philosophy and Possession of Nature After hearing comments from the class, and especially Professor, about Goethes appropriation of record I began to wonder about the argument I had presented in our presentation. I decided to do further research and found some interesting arguments that both back up and detracted from my original statement. Although I think Goethes relationship to personality is undeniable, perhaps his appropriation of nature is less clear. I think the term appropriation is the cause of the enigma in identifying his true relationship to nature. In our presentation we presented examples of the appropriation of nature through Romantic literature. The most direct example of this was in Annes detailed translation of slope landscape gardening where nature was physically appropriated to create the picturesque. Here we can see the distinction between any concept of Goethes appropriation of nature and the real and physical appropriation by English lands capers. The term appropriation denotes and connotes possession on the part of the appropriator. The question of possession therefore becomes central to an inclination of Goethes appropriation of nature. Indeed, the landowners of England commissioned landscape architects to transform their grounds into models of the picturesque and this process was demonstrative of an actual possession over the land. However, I find it difficult to bring low Goethe to materialism and believe that he would take a more engaged and emotional approach to nature. It is obvious that Goethe never actually appropriated any of nature, especially when compared with the English landscapers, but Im not sure if this satisfies an understanding of his relationship to nature... ...n cooperation. It is also interesting how this problem expands into Goethes Faust and Italian Journey and seems to be the basis of a greater discipline in his literature. The question of Goethes appropriation of nature could be whether he subscribes to a mechanical or magical philosophy in MacLennans terms. Either master to nature or companion, Goethes relationship with nature is dynamic and complex. Works Cited Brown, Jane K. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. http//worldroots.com/brigitte/goethe1.htm 19 Feb. 2005. Goethe, Johann. Italian Journey. London Penguin Classics, 1962. MacLennan, Bruce. Introduction to Goethe, Faust, and Science seminar. http//www.cs.utk.edu/mclennan/Classes/UH348/Intro-IIC5.html 19 Feb. 2005. Seamon, David. Goethe, Nature, and Phenomenology. http//www.arch.ksu.edu/seamon/book%20chapters/goethe_intro.htm 18 Feb. 2005.