In the following year, Kleist's roving restless spirit got the better of him, and procuring a lengthened leave of absence, he visited Paris, then settled in Switzerland. There, he found congenial friends inHeinrich Zschokke andLudwig Wieland [de] (1777–1819), son of the poetChristoph Martin Wieland; and to them, he read his first drama, a gloomy tragedy,The Schroffenstein Family [de] (1803).
In the autumn of 1802, Kleist returned to Germany; he visitedGoethe,Schiller, and Wieland inWeimar, stayed for a while inLeipzig andDresden, returned to Paris. Returning in 1804 to his post in Berlin, he transferred to the Domänenkammer (department for the administration of crown lands) atKönigsberg. On a journey to Dresden in 1807, Kleist was arrested by the French as a spy; he remained a close prisoner ofFrance in theFort de Joux. On regaining his liberty, he proceeded to Dresden, where, in conjunction withAdam Heinrich Müller (1779–1829), he published the journalPhöbus in 1808.
Grave of Kleist and Henriette Vogel at BerlinKleiner Wannsee after renovation in 2011Suicide letter addressed to his half-sister Ulrike
In 1809 Kleist went toPrague, and ultimately settled in Berlin. He edited (1810/1811) theBerliner Abendblätter [de]. Captivated by the intellectual and musical accomplishments of the terminally-ill Henriette Vogel(de), Kleist, more disheartened and embittered than ever, agreed to do her bidding and die with her, carrying out this resolution by first shooting Vogel then himself on the shore of the KleinerWannsee (Little Wannsee) nearPotsdam, on 21 November 1811.[1]
According to theEncyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, "Kleist's whole life was filled by a restless striving after ideal and illusory happiness, and this is reflected in his work. He was by far the most important North German dramatist of theRomantic movement, and no other of the Romanticists approaches him in the energy with which he expresses patriotic indignation."[2]
In the spring of 1799, the 21-year-old Kleist wrote a letter to his half-sisterUlrike [de] in which he found it "incomprehensible how a human being can live without a life plan" (Lebensplan).[3] In effect, Kleist sought and discovered an overwhelming sense of security by looking to the future with a definitive plan for his life.[3] It brought him happiness and assured him of confidence, especially knowing life without a plan only saw despair and discomfort.[3] Theirony of hissuicide is the fodder of his critics.
Relationship with Henriette Vogel and suicide pact
Kleist met Henriette Vogel in 1809 through his friend Adam Müller; a friendship flourished. They shared a fondness for music, and according to Ernest Peguilhen, Henriette Vogel asked her friend to explain to her the art of war, as well as to teach herfencing,[citation needed] for the dramatist was a soldier. The relationship between the two became intimate in the autumn of 1811. According to their contemporaries, there was no fire of passion but a purely spiritual love. His cousin[4]Marie von Kleist, the most important sponsor and confidant of Heinrich von Kleist, also made sure these rumors spread. According to the autopsy report, Vogel was suffering fromcancer.[5]
On 21 November 1811 the two traveled from Berlin to Wannsee. Prior to their departure, they penned farewell letters, along with an account of the final night they spent at the inn Gasthof Stimming. Upon their arrival in the vicinity of theWannsee inPotsdam, Kleist shot Henriette, then turned the gun on himself. They were buried together in a common grave at Kleine Wannsee (Bismarckstrasse), which became a tourist attraction. It was re-designed prior to the bi-centenary of their deaths. On that occasion, direct access from Wannsee station to the grave was built. The gravestone, erected by Germans in 1936, was rotated, and shows engraved original text written byMax Ring and the Pater Noster's request: "forgive us our guilt" as well as the names and data of Henriette Vogel and Heinrich von Kleist.[6][7][8][9]
His firsttragedy wasThe Schroffenstein Family (Die Familie Schroffenstein). The material for the second,Penthesilea (1808), queen of the Amazons, is taken from aGreek source and presents a picture of wild passion. More successful than either of these was his romantic play,Käthchen of Heilbronn (Das Käthchen von Heilbronn) (1808), a poetic drama full of medieval bustle and mystery, which retained its popularity for many years.[1]
Incomedy, Kleist made a name withThe Broken Jug (Der zerbrochne Krug) (1808), whileAmphitryon [de] (1808), an adaptation ofMolière's comedy, received critical acclaim long after his death. Of Kleist's other dramas,Die Hermannsschlacht (1809) is a dramatic work of anti-Napoleonic propaganda, written asAustria and France went to war. It has been described byCarl Schmitt as the "greatestpartisan work of all time".[10] In it he gives vent to his hatred of his country's oppressors. This, together with the dramaThe Prince of Homburg (Prinz Friedrich von Homburg oder die Schlacht bei Fehrbellin), which is among his best works, was first published byLudwig Tieck in Kleist'sHinterlassene Schriften (1821).Robert Guiskard, a drama conceived on a grand plan, was left a fragment.[1]
Kleist was also a master in the art of narrative, and of hisGesammelte Erzählungen (Collected Stories) (1810–1811),Michael Kohlhaas, in which the famousBrandenburg horse dealer inMartin Luther's day is immortalized, is one of the best German stories of its time.[1]The Earthquake in Chile (Das Erdbeben in Chili) andSt. Cecilia, or the Power of Music (Die heilige Cäcilie oder die Gewalt der Musik) are also fine examples of Kleist's story telling as isThe Marquise of O (Die Marquise von O). His short narratives influenced those ofKafka[11] and the novellas of the Austrian writerFriedrich Halm.[12] He also wrote patriotic lyrics in the context of theNapoleonic Wars.
Kleist's work also delved into the realm ofrhetoric. Most notable for his use of error and understanding its importance, Kleist's devices used were misspeaking, misunderstanding, mistaken identities, and other confusions of the sort. In his works one can see the most prevalent use of rhetoric withinPenthesilea. In the story moments of violence, seduction and war all hinge upon errors in language. Through these errors, Kleist shows how error can influence everyday situations and can be the causation of serious problems. As a sum, Kleist's use of error explores what one can make of ironic errors within speech.[13]
Kleist is also famous for his essays on subjects ofaesthetics and psychology which, to the closer look, show a keen insight into the metaphysical questions discussed by philosophers of his time, such asKant,Fichte andSchelling.
On the Gradual Production of Thoughts Whilst Speaking
In the first of his larger essays,On the Gradual Production of Thoughts Whilst Speaking (Über die allmähliche Verfertigung der Gedanken beim Reden [de]), Kleist claims that most people are advised to speak only about what they already understand.[14] Instead of talking about what you already know, Kleist admonishes his readers to speak to others with "the sensible intention of instructing yourself."[14] Fostering a dialogue through the art of "skillful questioning" can play a role in achieving a rational or enlightened state of mind, but need not ("Nor is it that her skillful questioning leads me on to the point which matters, though this may frequently be the case" (von Kleist, p. 405)).[14] And yet, Kleist employs the example of the French Revolution as the climactic event of the Enlightenment era whereby man broke free from his dark and feudal chains in favor ofliberty, equality, fraternity. It is not that easy though for Kleist. Man cannot simply guide himself into the future with a rational mind as his primary tool. Therefore, Kleist strongly advocates for the usefulness of reflectionex post facto or after the fact.[15] In doing so, man will be able to mold his collectiveconsciousness in a manner conducive to the principles offree will. By reflecting after the fact, man will avoid the seemingly detestable inhibitions offered in rational thought. In other words, thewill to power has "its splendid source in the feelings," and thus, man must overcome his "struggle withFate" with a balanced mixture ofwisdom andpassion.[15]
HisGesammelte Schriften were published byLudwig Tieck (3 vols. 1826) and byJulian Schmidt (new ed. 1874); also by Franz Muncker (4 vols. 1882); by Theophil Zolling (4 vols. 1885); byK. Siegen, (4 vols. 1895); and in a critical edition by Erich Schmidt (5 vols. 1904–1905). HisAusgewählte Dramen were published by K. Siegen (Leipzig, 1877); and his letters were first published by Eduard von Bülow,Heinrich von Kleists Leben und Briefe (1848).[1]
Plays
Die Familie Schroffenstein, written 1802, published anonymously in 1803, premiered 9 January 1804 in Graz
Robert Guiskard, Herzog der Normänner, written 1802–1803, published April/May 1808 inPhöbus, first performed on 6 April 1901 at the Berliner Theater in Berlin
Der zerbrochne Krug (The Broken Jug), written 1803–1806, premiered 2 March 1808 at the Hoftheater in Weimar
Amphitryon, written 1807, first performed on 8 April 1899 at the Neuen Theater in Berlin
Penthesilea, completed 1807, published 1808, first performed in May 1876 at the Königlichen Schauspielhaus in Berlin
Die Hermannsschlacht, written 1809, posthumously published 1821, first performed on 18 October 1860 in Breslau
Prinz Friedrich von Homburg (The Prince of Homburg), written 1809–1811, first performed on 3 October 1821 asDie Schlacht von Fehrbellin at the Burgtheater in Vienna
Novellas and short stories
Das Erdbeben in Chili (The Earthquake in Chile), published under the original titleJeronimo und Josephe 1807 in CottasMorgenblatt für gebildete Stände; revised and included in 1810 inErzählungen (Volume 1)
Die Marquise von O...., published February 1808 inPhöbus; revised and included in 1810 inErzählungen (Volume 1)
Das Bettelweib von Locarno (The Beggarwoman of Locarno), published 11 October 1810 in theBerliner Abendblättern; included in 1811 inErzählungen (Volume 2)
Die Verlobung in St. Domingo (The Betrothal in Santo Domingo), published 25 March to 5 April 1811 inDer Freimüthige; revised and included in 1811 inErzählungen (Volume 2)
Der Findling (The Foundling), published in 1811 inErzählungen (Volume 2)
Der Zweikampf (The Duel), published 1811 inErzählungen (Volume 2)
Anekdoten, published 1810–1811 in theBerliner Abendblättern
Anecdotes. Translated by Matthew Spencer. Seattle: Sublunary Editions. 2021.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
Wie zwei fröhliche Luftschiffer (Like Two Merry Aeronauts, 1969), 85 min; written and directed byJonatan Briel; DFFB Production. The film depicts the last three days of Kleist's life. With his lover, Henriette Vogel, dying of cancer, Kleist philosophizes about life and welcomes his planned suicide.
Amour Fou (2014), directed byJessica Hausner, nominated in theUn Certain Regard category at theCannes Film Festival 2014, withChristian Friedel playing Heinrich and Birte Schnoeink playing Henriette. The film purports that Henriette does not in fact suffer from any type of tumour but that her symptoms have psychological causes.[19]
^M. Riße & G. Weiler, "Heinrich von Kleist und Henriette Vogel. Forensisch-historische Aspekte eines erweiterten Suizids",Rechtsmedizin9, 112–114 (1999)doi:10.1007/s001940050092
^Tanja Langer (2011).Wir sehn uns wieder in der Ewigkeit – Die letzte Nacht von Henriette Vogel und Heinrich von Kleist. München: dtv.ISBN978-3-423-13981-6.
^Walter Hinderer, "Kleist bläst in mich, wie in eine alte Schweinsblase" inFranz Kafka und die Weltliteratur, Ed. Manfred Engel, Dieter Lamping. (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2006) 66-82.
^Halms Werke, Vol. 11, ed. by Faust Pachler and Emil Kuh; Carl Gerold's Sohn, Vienna, 1872, p. vii
^Sng, Zachary.The Rhetoric of Error from Locke to Kleist. Stanford. Stanford University Press. 2010. Chapter 5.
^abcHeinrich von Kleist,On the Gradual Production of Thoughts Whilst Speaking. Ed. and Trans. by David Constantine. (Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2004), 405.
^abHeinrich von Kleist,On the Gradual Production of Thoughts Whilst Speaking. Ed. and Trans. by David Constantine. (Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2004), 410.
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Contag, Johannes (2025).The Stories of Heinrich von Kleist: A Critical Bilingual Edition. 2 volumes, De Gruyter Brill.ISBN978-90-04-74235-2.
Croce, Benedetto (1924)."Kleist." In:European Literature in the Nineteenth Century. London: Chapman & Hall, pp. 52–59.
Helbling, Robert (1975).The Major Works of Heinrich von Kleist. New York: New Directions.ISBN0-8112-0563-0.
Jacobs, Carol (1989).Uncontainable Romanticism: Shelley, Brontë, Kleist. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Hampp, Bernhard (2017).Wo das Käthchen aus dem Fenster sprang. Kleist-Archiv Sembdner in Heilbronn. In: Bernhard Hampp:Schwaben erlesen! Württemberg für Literaturfreunde und Bibliophile. Messkirch: Gmeiner Verlag.ISBN978-3839221235. pp 135–136.
Lamport, Francis John (1990).German Classical Drama: Theatre, Humanity and Nation, 1750–1870. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.ISBN0-521-36270-9.
Maass, Joachim (1983).Kleist: A Biography. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.
McGlathery, James (1983).Desire's Sway the Plays and Stories of Heinrich von Kleist. Detroit: Wayne State University Press.ISBN978-081431-734-1.
Meldrum Brown, Hilda (1998).Heinrich Von Kleist The Ambiguity of Art and the Necessity of Form. Oxford: Clarendon Press.ISBN0-19-815895-5.
Servaes, Franz (1902).Heinrich von Kleist. Leipzig: E. A. Seemann.
Siebert, Eberhard (2009).Heinrich von Kleist – eine Bildbiographie. Heilbronn: Kleist-Archiv SembdnerISBN978-3-940494-59-7
Staengle, Peter (2009).Kleist. Sein Leben. Heilbronn: Kleist-Archiv SembdnerISBN978-3-940494-44-3
Steig, Reinhold (1901).Heinrich von Kleists Berliner Kämpfe. Berlin: W. Spemann.
(in German, English, Dutch, French, Italian, and Spanish) Dirk de Pol (2021)."Das Erhabene bei Kleist" In: Dirk de Pol:Epochensplitterbruch. Pandavia, Berlin, pp. 24–52.ISBN978-3-7531-5486-2
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