Origin of the German Trauerspiel

The Origin of German Tragic Drama, by Walter Benjamin, is a historically oriented analysis of modernity that identifies allegory as the constitutive trope of the Baroque and of modernity itself. Howard Eilands new English translation, the first since 1977, is closer to the German text and more consistent with Benjamin's philosophical idiom. The book includes German texts and late Renaissance European drama such as Hamlet and Calderón's Life Is a Dream, and the prologue is one of his most important and difficult pieces of writing.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 04 February 2019
Publisher: Harvard University Press

The German Trauerspiel, a theatrical genre that emerged in the extravagant seventeenth century, holds a significant place in the history of modernity. In his groundbreaking work, "The Origin of German Tragic Drama," Walter Benjamin delves into the play of mourning, exploring its intricate connections with allegory. This essay delves into the origins and significance of the German Trauerspiel, highlighting Benjamin's analysis of allegory as a central trope of the Baroque and modernity.

The trauerspiel, a precursor to the opera, emerged as a theatrical genre during the extravagant seventeenth century. Benjamin's analysis of the trauerspiel focuses on allegory as its defining characteristic. Allegory, according to Benjamin, signifies a world of mutability and equivocation, where the boundaries between reality and illusion are blurred. It evokes a melancholic sense of eternal transience, devoid of the transcendentals found in medieval mystery plays. However, despite this absence of religious or mythical elements, the trauerspiel remains deeply haunted and bedeviled.

Benjamin's investigation of the trauerspiel encompasses German texts as well as late Renaissance European drama, including works such as Hamlet and Calderón's Life Is a Dream. The prologue, one of Benjamin's most important and challenging pieces of writing, serves as a methodological guide and introduces his concept of the "constellation." The "constellation" is a key tool in Benjamin's analysis, allowing him to grasp the world through a dynamic and interconnected network of fragments of daily life.

This rigorous and elegant new translation of "The Origin of German Tragic Drama" by Howard Eiland brings fresh understanding to Benjamin's cardinal work. Eiland's translation is closer to the German text, aligning with Benjamin's philosophical idiom. Thoroughly annotated with a philological and historical introduction, as well as additional explanatory and supplementary material, this translation enhances the reader's engagement with Benjamin's ideas.

In conclusion, the German Trauerspiel, through Benjamin's analysis of allegory, offers a profound exploration of the complexities of modernity. The trauerspiel's emphasis on mutability, equivocation, and the melancholic sense of eternal transience provides a unique perspective on the world. Howard Eiland's new translation of "The Origin of German Tragic Drama" enhances our understanding of Benjamin's ideas and contributes to the ongoing dialogue about the origins and significance of modernity.

Weight: 430g
Dimension: 141 x 208 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674744240