The wreath of angels
The wreath of angels is the last volume of a two-volume novel by Gertrud von le Fort , which was published by Michael Beckstein in Munich in 1946. The first volume, “ The Welding Cloth of Veronika ” , had already been published in 1928 - also in Munich.
The 26-year-old Catholic Christian Veronika loves Enzio, an opponent of Christianity. Love is returned. During the wedding season, Enzio is reluctant. Under no circumstances does he want the blessing of the Catholic Church at the upcoming wedding. Veronika sticks to both her love and her religion. After confession, the young bride is excluded from the Christian community. Then she collapses physically. Enzio gives up his stubbornness out of love for Veronica. Then Veronika is on the way to recovery.
Time, place and form
The setting is Heidelberg in 1924. The bride and groom once visited Speyer Cathedral on a day trip . Form: The first-person narrator Veronika looks back; tells of "back then", when those wounds were made that had healed at the time of the story.
title
Veronika and Enzio visit Heidelberg Castle together . At the top of the pointed arch of a Gothic gate, they see two angels with wings raised high and holding a wreath nestled close together. A picture of the two angels hangs in Veronica's room. As she fell asleep, it was like that when the angels called: “Everything that is yours, it is already to be before God.” Throughout the entire novel, Veronica considers this image to be the protective symbol of her connection with Enzio. More precisely: Veronica, who is deeply believing, takes the wreath as a symbol of her inextricable bond with the unbelieving man.
content
Veronika is welcomed with open arms in the house of her guardian, a professor and cultural philosopher, in Heidelberg. Veronica actually wants to go back to Father Angelo in Rome to become a nun in Via Lucchesi . But then she meets the student Enzio, who is finishing his dissertation. From childhood friendship becomes love. Veronica realizes the problem is her piety and Enzio's ungodliness. Nevertheless, she stays in Heidelberg and studies at Enzio's side. She listens to art history and the philosophy of religion from her guardian . Enzio is her guardian's most gifted student. Enzio's mother, Frau Wolke, who like Veronika lost her fortune during the inflation , runs a small guesthouse in Heidelberg. Enzio almost became an invalid during the war. He had often thought of Veronica in the field. When he lay wounded at the time, he had called her in dire need. Veronika, gifted with vision , was in Switzerland at the time and had answered the friend.
Enzio writes essays that criticize the difficult peace. After experiencing the war, Enzio no longer wants to be a poet. He would rather work out the future of Germany in writing in order to "free the people from this terrible peace". Enzio becomes engaged to Veronica. The dean of Heidelberg, to whom Veronika personally communicates her intention to marry, can in no way approve of the connection with a man who is neither Christian nor Catholic. The church can tolerate this marriage under two conditions at the most: church marriage and Christian upbringing of the children from this marriage. Enzio, who in his "distance from God" wants a marriage without God, holds on to his love for Veronica. Veronika wants to get married soon; would like to lead a simple married life. Enzio applies to work as an editor for an insignificant newspaper. There are differences. Enzio sees his life's mission in “coming back” and narrow-mindedly states the eternity of what has been irretrievably lost. Veronika disagrees. Only God be eternal. The Christian holds on to the church wedding against the will of the groom. The wedding is being postponed. Veronika wants to wait for Enzio until the end if it has to be. In spite of all dangers, she holds up; even when Enzio imperiously desires her body. The guardian has had very bad experiences with his preferred pupil Enzio and doubts whether Veronika could withstand the strong will of her fiancé. Mrs. Silk, the guardian’s selfish wife, would like to have Veronika out of the house because of her unstable health. In truth, the hypocritical, childless woman is jealous of Veronica. The guardian decides that Veronika will stay. Frau Silk, for whom “everything is a beautiful suit”, insidiously asserts herself. The guardian wants to support Veronika financially. She wants to take a trip to Rome to pick up her former nanny Jeanette. It doesn't come to that. Mrs. Cloud, who opposed Veronika as a daughter-in-law, is always there for her only son Enzio. Now she pretends to be ill so that the future daughter-in-law has to take over the management of the small pension. Veronika complies and works herself in. Mrs. Cloud becomes terminally ill, only because Veronika does not agree to a marriage without God. But the bride does not marry. Father Angelo confirms in a letter to Veronica that she will remain faithful to the incredulous Enzio. It is difficult for her when she thinks of Enzio's accusation: “Who handed me over to the demons?” Both fiancés suffer, but neither gives in. The Heidelberg dean, to whom Veronika confesses, says she was too indulgent. According to the law of the Church, he excludes believers from receiving Holy Communion . Veronika no longer goes to church. Enzio defeated the fiancée. She can't cry anymore. Veronika falls seriously ill and struggles with death. Jeanette rushes over from Rome for care. The dean or his chaplain visit and bring holy communion to the sick. The resurgent “mother-in-law” Frau Wolke spread her best tablecloth on loan for the makeshift altar next to Veronika's bed. Enzio had gone to the dean and had promised, if Veronica remained alive, "to consent to everything the church demands of him".
reception
- The theme of the novel, the conflict between traditional Catholicism and atheism , is Gertrud von le Forts' ecumenical concern.
- During her time in Heidelberg - that is the six years before the First World War - Gertrud von le Fort was influenced by Ernst Troeltsch and also met Stefan George . While the author is drawing a picture of her revered teacher Ernst Troeltsch with Veronika's guardian, the professor, Enzio is allegorizing the danger that would have come from Stefan George.
- The happy solution to the conflict between the fiancé cannot convince Meyerhofer.
- The first novel is more independent than the second.
- For Veronica, love is above any applicable law. "Veronika feels the love for her childhood friend Enzio as a religious mission."
- September 1948 to the address of the reader: "Germany can only be resurrected through the power of human love."
literature
- source
- Gertrud von le Fort: The wreath of angels . 316 pages. Franz Ehrenwirth Verlag Munich. 3rd edition September 1948. Military Government Intelligence Control License No. US-E-105
- First edition
- Gertrud von le Fort: The wreath of angels (= the handkerchief of Veronica. Part 2). Michael Beckstein Verlag, Munich 1946, 312 pages, half linen.
- Secondary literature
- Nicholas J. Meyerhofer: Gertrud von LeFort (= heads of the 20th century. Vol. 119). Morgenbuch-Verlag, Berlin 1993, ISBN 3-371-00376-0 .
- Gero von Wilpert : Lexicon of world literature. German authors A - Z. 4th, completely revised edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-520-83704-8 , p. 381, 2nd column, 7th Zvo
Individual evidence
- ↑ Meyerhofer, p. 102, entry from 1928
- ↑ Source, p. 10, 22. Zvo
- ↑ Source, p. 10, 12. Zvo and p. 8, 17. Zvo
- ↑ Source, p. 8, 11. Zvo
- ↑ Source, p. 87, 1. Zvu
- ↑ Source, p. 215, 3. Zvo
- ↑ Source, p. 82 below
- ↑ Source, p. 41 below
- ↑ Source, p. 83, 2. Zvo
- ↑ Meyerhofer, p. 46, 15. Zvo
- ↑ Source, p. 94, 9. Zvu
- ↑ Source, p. 157, 11. Zvu
- ↑ Meyerhofer, pp. 38-39
- ↑ Meyerhofer, pp. 26-28
- ↑ Meyerhofer, p. 46, 14. Zvo
- ↑ Meyerhofer, p. 28, 10th Zvu
- ↑ Meyerhofer, p. 47, 9. Zvo
- ↑ Meyerhofer, p. 47, 9th Zvu
- ^ Meyerhofer, p. 48, 14th Zvu
- ↑ From the blurb of the source, front flap, 15. Zvo
- ↑ From the blurb of the source, rear flap, 4th Zvu