Cornelia Schlosser

Cornelia Schlosser

Cornelia around 1770. Drawing by Johann Ludwig Ernst Morgenstern
Born Cornelia Friederica Christiana Goethe
(1750-12-07)December 7, 1750
Frankfurt on Main, Holy Roman Empire
Died Emmendingen, Holy Roman Empire
Occupation Scribe
Known for Being the sister of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Home town Frankfurt on Main
Spouse(s) Johann Georg Schlosser
Children Maria Anne Louise
Catharina Elisabeth Julie

Cornelia Friederica Christiana Schlosser (née Goethe; 7 December 1750 – 8 June 1777) was the sister and only sibling of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who survived to adulthood.

Life

The Goethe family in 1762. Cornelia is to the far right.

Cornelia Goethe, 15 months younger than her brother Johann Wolfgang, was born in Frankfurt am Main. Her father, imperial councillor Johann Caspar Goethe (29 July 1710 – 25 May 1782), thought it appropriate for an upper-class woman to have some higher education,[1] and Cornelia was educated together with her brother, which was unusual in those days. At the age of three, she was sent to a kindergarten school, where she learnt reading and writing with Magdalena Hoff. From the age of seven, she and her brother were taught together by a tutor, Johann Heinrich Thym. Latin and ancient Greek were the first languages she was taught, and two years later, she also began receiving French lessons. She also learnt English, Italian, law, geography, mathematics, and calligraphy, as well as singing, piano, and drawing. She also learnt fencing and horseriding, and received lessons in dance and etiquette. In her leisure time, she pursued literary interests, which she discussed with her brother.

Cornelia did not fit into the relaxed environment of that time due to her serious and hypochondriac nature.[1] She did not relate well to her parents, as there were significant differences between her personality and that of her mother Katharina Elisabeth Goethe (1731 - 1808), who was known as the cheerful "Frau Rat" ("Lady Councillor"), and as she did not forgive her father for having overburdened her with studies and thus having robbed her of some joys of childhood.[1] She could relate better to her brother, who understood her and did not ignore her interest in intellectual pursuits.[1] She had a good relationship with Johann Wolfgang and turned out to be a source of love, comfort, and support for him when he was plagued by fears and self-reproach after his relationship with his girlfriend Gretchen ended. Goethe's relationship with Gretchen had led him to move in circles that were involved in somewhat criminal activities.[2] These circumstances laid the foundations for a deep friendship between Cornelia and Johann Wolfgang.[2] Of all relationships in her life, Cornelia's relationship with her brother was the closest and a source of great happiness for her.[1]

Cornelia was not conventionally beautiful, but her brother admired her deep and intelligent eyes.[1] Her circle of friends consisted of pretty, but rather superficial women who were enjoying the exuberance of youth and willingly included Cornelia in their circle as they did not fear her as a rival.[3]

When Johann Wolfgang went to Leipzig to study law, Cornelia stayed at home in Frankfurt. Johann Wolfgang's three years in Leipzig interrupted the siblings' daily contact for the first time.[4] Cornelia observed that her brother adopted the prevalent attitude of the time toward women, that is, one in which women were considered subordinate to men. She took great interest in her brother's literary accomplishments and was often the first to know about his plans, drafts, and revisions.[4] Letters from this time that she wrote to her friend Katharina Fabricius in French have been preserved. Cornelia suffered the disadvantages of being a woman at that time, but did not see an alternative to marriage: Es ist offensichtlich, daß ich nicht immer Mädchen bleiben kann, überdies wäre es sehr lächerlich, sich das vorzunehmen. ("It is obvious that I cannot stay a girl all my life, and planning to do so would be ridiculous."). She married Johann Georg Schlosser, a jurist, and had two daughters, Maria Anne Louise and Catharina Elisabeth Julie.

She died in Emmendingen at the age of 26.

Cornelia Schlosser

Legacy

The Cornelia Goethe Center for Women's and Gender Studies at the University of Frankfurt is named after her, as is the Cornelia Goethe Prize that it awards.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Valerian Tornius: Goethe — Leben, Wirken und Schaffen (Goethe — Life, Work and Influence). Ludwig Röhrscheid publishers, Bonn 1949, p. 29
  2. 1 2 Valerian Tornius: Goethe — Leben, Wirken und Schaffen (Goethe — Life, Work and Influence). Ludwig Röhrscheid publishers, Bonn 1949, p. 28
  3. ↑ Valerian Tornius: Goethe — Leben, Wirken und Schaffen (Goethe — Life, Work and Influence). Ludwig Röhrscheid publishers, Bonn 1949, p. 29-30
  4. 1 2 Karl Robert Mandelkow, Bodo Morawe: Goethes Briefe (Goethe's Letters). 2. edition. Vol. 1: Briefe der Jahre 1764-1786 (Letters of the years 1764-1786). Christian Wegner publishers, Hamburg 1968, p. 522

References

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