Trans/Form/Ação (Dec 2012)

The demonism of creation in Goethe's philosophy

  • Nicolae Râmbu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0101-31732012000300004
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 35, no. 3
pp. 67 – 80

Abstract

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Goethe's philosophy of creativity revolves around what he called das Dämonische. This essay is not meant as a definition or an explanation of demonic creation, but instead presents a demonic work par excellence, as the term "demonic" is defined by Goethe in the Elegy from Marienbad. The process of the creation of this work, as it is described by Goethe, also represents a strange exorcism, as the entire daemonic creative force of the author is transposed in this lyrical masterpiece of German and universal literature. After writing the Elegy Goethe, it is no longer demonic.

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