Goethes politisches Denken und Handeln im Spiegel seiner Amtlichen Schriften: Eine politikwissenschaftliche Analyse (review)

Goethe’s Amtliche Schriften document in great detail the many responsibilities he undertook during his public service in Weimar, which began in 1776 and continued for decades following his return from Italy. Whether one is familiar with this side of Goethe or desires to learn more about it, Wolfgang Pollert provides a welcome contribution to this area of Goethe studies, one which still remains largely unexplored. As the title suggests, Pollert’s study is not a literary analysis. While there are a few brief references to Faust, West-östlicher Divan, and the Wilhelm Meister novels, the author concentrates primarily on Goethe’s official writings and related texts. He situates them within the larger contexts of both Weimar and Goethe’s lifelong engagement with politics. The first five sections, which vary substantially in length, cover the following topics: “Der historische Hintergrund,” “Goethes Jugendzeit,” “Von Frankfurt nach Weimar,” “Goethe und die Politik überhaupt,” and “Goethe in politischen Ämtern.” These eighty-seven pages provide a backdrop against which to view Goethe’s decision to accept the position of Geheimer Legationsrat offered to him by the then eighteen-year-old Duke Carl August, eight years his junior. The last of the sections listed above gives a concise summary of Goethe’s duties during the decade leading up to his Italian trip. In addition to his seat on the Privy Council (Geheimes Consilium), Goethe was tasked with overseeing the Bergwerkskommission, Wegebaudirektion, Kriegskommission, and Ilmenauer Steuerkommission. Throughout his study, Pollert emphasizes Goethe’s prowess in financial matters, which he utilized with respect to his duties in Ilmenau, where he dealt extensively with taxation and the revival and operation of its mine.

Goethe’s efforts to revive the mine at Ilmenau represent his greatest undertaking during his time as a public official. Pollert dedicates a lengthy section to “Goethe, Ilmenau und die praktische Politik,” in which one sees the trials and tribulations associated with this mining venture. Goethe first visited the mine in 1776 during his first of twenty-eight trips to Ilmenau. On February 24, 1784, residents celebrated the reopening of the mine, and Goethe gave a short speech. After a religious service the locals and their children proceeded to the ground-breaking ceremony. Pollert describes Goethe’s role as follows: “Schreiber reichte Goethe eine bergmännische Keilhaue, mit welcher der Herr Geheimrat den ersten Hieb vollbrachte, worauf die Menge eine dreimaliges ‘Glückauf’ ausrief. Anschließend wurde aus jedem Stande einer zum Hieb mit der Keilhaue aufge-fordert, auch die Kinder mußten sich beteiligen” (103). Unfortunately for all involved, neither religious conviction nor good fortune would lead to the lasting success of the endeavor. A combination of fiscal problems and an underground collapse ultimately brought about the end of the Ilmenau mine.

As noted above, Goethe also oversaw tax matters in Ilmenau. Goethe’s Amtliche Schriften in this area show his interest in the history of taxation as well as his efforts to simplify the tax system, which was inefficient, had been prone to abuse by tax collectors, and unduly burdened the poor. Following his first encounter with Ilmenau taxation issues in 1777, he remained actively engaged in this area until 1805. In a July 10, 1793 letter, Goethe writes: “Über Ilmenau freue ich mich. Wenn die Vor- und Ausarbeitungen des Steuerwesens vollbracht sind wird es ein angenehm Geschäft seyn das Ganze zusammenzuziehen zu ordnen und einen Plan für die Zukunft zu machen” (132–33). By highlighting Goethe’s sustained engagement with Ilmenau, Pollert broadens the scope of critical inquiry and adds a further dimension to the study of Goethe’s literary works.

After his return from Italy, where he had followed the progress of the Ilmenau mine from afar, Goethe undertook a variety of new official duties. While he retained his seat on the Privy Council, he turned his attention to the Schloßbaukommission, Wasserbaukommission, Theaterkommission, and a special department called the “Oberaufsicht über die unmittelbaren Anstalten...