Gotthold Ephraim Lessing

Emilia Galotti Gotthold Ephraim Lessing

Emilia Galotti, by German writer, philosopher, dramatist, and art critic, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, was originally published in English as translated by Ernest Bell, in 1891. The work is a play in five acts, originally premiering on the 8th of March 1772 in Brunswick. The work is a classic example of German bürgerliches Trauerspiel (bourgeois tragedy). Emilia Galotti is a drama of the Enlightenment, though it 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 arbitrary style of rule by the aristocracy is placed in stark contrast to the new and enlightened morality of the bourgeoisie.