Gotthold Ephraim Lessing

Nathan The Wise Gotthold Ephraim Lessing

Nathan the Wise (original German title: Nathan der Weise, pronounced (About this soundlisten)) is a play published by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. It is a fervent plea for religious tolerance. Set in Jerusalem during the Third Crusade, it describes how the wise Jewish merchant Nathan, the enlightened sultan Saladin, and the (initially anonymous) Templar, bridge their gaps between Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Its major themes are friendship, tolerance, relativism of God, a rejection of miracles and a need for communication.