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Emilia Galotti is a drama of the Enlightenment that doesn't precisely follow the standard French model of the era. Although love is a central theme, in reality Emilia Galotti is primarily a political commentary. The practically arbitrary style of rule by the aristocracy is placed in stark contrast to the new and enlightened morality of the bourgeoisie. All more feudal ideas of love and marriage thus come into conflict with the greater move by the population to marry for love rather than tradition and power. This combination proves to ensure a rather explosive situation.
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-81) was a German writer and Enlightenment philosopher. He advocated for the toleration of the Jews and he had a close relationship with Moses Mendelssohn. “Mendelssohn was the inspiration for Lessing's Nathan der Weise (1779), his last play, and once more a plea for toleration. Based on the parable of the three rings, adapted from Boccaccio's Decameron, the play presents Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as three sons of a benevolent father who has given each an identical ring, although each one claims that his ring alone is authentic. Nathan is made the spokesman for the aspirations of the Enlightenment: tolerance, brotherhood, and love of humanity.”
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