Schiller Johann Christoph Friedrich von (Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller)

10. XI. 1759 - 9. V. 1805
Son of a poor officer, Schiller studied military medical specialty. Even within the walls of the military school Schiller began to write drama "Robbers" (published. 1781), to protest against the feudal system. In autumn 1782 Schiller fled to Mannheim. Later he wrote the drama "Conspiracy Fiesko" (1783) and "Intrigue and Love" (published. 1784) - "the first German politically - tendentious drama" (F. Engels). In the drama "Don Carlos" (1787) the rebellious spirit of giving way to the preaching of abstract humanism. Contrasting the "pure ideals of" art "vulgar reality" of his time, Schiller embodied their views in philosophical lyrics ( "The Gods of Greece", 1788, "Song of Joy", 1785, "Artists", 1789).
The beginning of the French Revolution of the late XVIII century Schiller met with enthusiasm. Convent awarded him the title of "honorary citizen of the French Republic". But the subsequent deepening of the revolution scared Schiller. This is reflected in his works on aesthetics ( "Letters on the aesthetic education of man", 1795, etc.). Schiller saw art as the only means of achieving political freedom.
Weimar Schiller published the magazine "Almanac Muses" (1794), together with B. Goethe, with whom he was bound by ties of friendship. At the same time written and ballads of Schiller: "The Cup", "The Glove", "Ivikovy Cranes (all 1797)," bail "(1798), etc.. In the final year of the move to the Weimar (1799) published a "Song of the Bell", an inspired hymn to creative work, though weakened lines polemic against the French Revolution.
In the historical trilogy "Wallenstein" (2 hh., 1798-99) Schiller created the image of an ambitious military leader who had spoken out against the interests of the state and defeated. In the tragedy of "Maria Stuart" (1801), Shiller draws psychological conflict between two opposing natures - the Protestant queen and queen-Catholic. In "Maid of Orleans" (1801), Shiller created an image of the heroine of the French people. Drama "Bride of Messina" (1803) was a failed attempt to create a tragedy for the antique models. Schiller's interest in the topic of the people's liberation struggle was reflected in the drama "Wilhelm Tell" (1804).
At the end of his life Schiller managed to write several episodes of the historical tragedy of "Demetrius" (1804) about the events of the early 17 th century in Russia.