Liebe(spathos) und (frei gewählter) Tod bei Goethe: eine exemplarische Untersuchung zu Stella (1806), Egmont (1788) und Clavigo (1774)

Recently, a noticeable increase in deaths associated with unhappy love experiences has been observed (cf. LNT). Against this backdrop, the present study engages with three of ‘Goethe’s most significant dramas’, namely the tragedies Stella, Egmont, and Clavigo (cf. Hinderer). It explores the issue of (voluntary) love death, focusing on its manifestations within this triadic textual corpus and its dramatic representation by the author, most especially as portrayed through the female main characters. Adopting a methodological approach grounded in the literary hermeneutics, the study examines the extent to which (voluntary) death, in connection with love, is anchored in the thematic structure of Goethe’s dramatic works. Furthermore, it elucidates the symbolic dimensions this issue assumes within the context of Goethe’s texts. Finally, the study demonstrates the new perspectives that emerge through a productive “re-reading” of these works, particularly with regard to contemporary social life.