Gotthold Ephraim Lessing shaped German Enlightenment theatre, pushing for reason and social critique. He moved away from French neoclassicism, championing "bourgeois tragedy" that focused on middle-class characters and their struggles.

Lessing's plays and essays, like Hamburg Dramaturgy, set the stage for German national theatre. His use of realistic characters, natural dialogue, and social themes laid the groundwork for realism in theatre, influencing future generations of playwrights.

Lessing's Contributions to Enlightenment Theatre

Lessing's Role in the German Enlightenment

• Lessing was a prominent figure in the German Enlightenment known for his critical writings on literature, art, and theatre
• He advocated for a new form of theatre that emphasized reason, morality, and social criticism moving away from the French neoclassical style
• Lessing promoted the idea of a "bourgeois tragedy" which focused on the lives and conflicts of middle-class characters as opposed to the aristocratic characters of traditional tragedy

Lessing's Influential Works and Ideas

• Lessing's Hamburg Dramaturgy (1767-1769) was a series of essays that critiqued contemporary plays and established the principles of a new German national theatre
• His plays, such as Miss Sara Sampson (1755) and Emilia Galotti (1772), exemplified his theatrical principles and had a significant impact on the development of German drama
• Lessing's emphasis on realistic characters, social themes, and natural dialogue laid the groundwork for the development of realism in theatre

Realism in Lessing's Plays

Realistic Characters and Language

• Lessing's plays featured middle-class protagonists facing moral dilemmas and social conflicts reflecting the concerns of the emerging bourgeoisie
• He employed a more natural and prosaic language in his plays moving away from the elevated and poetic style of earlier dramas
• His works demonstrated a keen understanding of human psychology and motivation presenting complex and multi-dimensional characters

Social Themes and Criticism

• Lessing's plays often explored themes of social criticism, religious tolerance, and the importance of reason and education
• He critiqued the rigid social hierarchies and the abuse of power by the aristocracy as seen in plays like Emilia Galotti
• Lessing advocated for religious tolerance and the importance of individual moral responsibility as exemplified in his play Nathan the Wise (1779)

Social and Philosophical Themes in Lessing's Works

Enlightenment Values and Social Reform

• Lessing's plays often addressed issues of social inequality, class conflict, and the need for reform in 18th-century German society
• His works promoted Enlightenment values such as reason, education, and the pursuit of truth often contrasting them with superstition, prejudice, and ignorance
• Lessing's plays served as a vehicle for social criticism and advocated for the betterment of society through the application of Enlightenment principles

Human Relationships and Moral Dilemmas

• Lessing's plays explored the complexities of human relationships particularly the tensions between love, duty, and societal expectations as seen in Miss Sara Sampson and Minna von Barnhelm (1767)
• His characters often faced moral dilemmas that challenged traditional values and societal norms forcing them to make difficult choices
• Through his portrayal of realistic human conflicts and emotions, Lessing sought to engage audiences in a deeper examination of the human condition and the ethical issues of his time