The golden mirror or the kings of Scheschian

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The golden mirror or the kings of Scheschian is a novel by Christoph Martin Wieland (1733–1813) first published in 1772 . Another edition was published in 1794, which differs from the first version mainly in its extended ending. The novel has several levels of action and a correspondingly large number of characters and themes. The connecting elements are the consideration of monarchy as a form of government and a reference to the Enlightenment .

content

action

Framework story

The framework story is the conversation between Schach-Gebal, Nurmahal and Danischmende. If at the beginning the telling of Scheschian's story was only intended to make it easier for the sultan to fall asleep, it quickly turns into a discussion about right and wrong governance.

The story of Scheschian

The Sultan of Indostan, Schach-Gebal, has his favorite Nurmahal and his court philosopher Danischmende tell the story of the fallen kingdom of Scheschian in the evening so that he can fall asleep better. The rulers of the kingdom and their strengths and weaknesses are described in chronological order. At the beginning of the story, Scheschian, which had disintegrated into small states, was conquered by Ogul-Kan, the prince of a neighboring empire, and united with him as an absolutist ruler. The country's culture also developed under the influence of his favorite Lili. Ogul-Kan's successor, Azor, is Lili's son. Since Azor itself neglects its political tasks, the politics of the country is determined by its favorite Alabanda. Isfandiar, the son of the two and successor to Azor, builds a tyrannical rule together with his advisor Eblis. This is ended by a revolution and the associated death of Isfandiar and his adviser. The empire falls into anomic states. At the same time, Tifan, the son of an Azorean brother, grew up in a closed valley. He was saved from the murder by the henchmen of Isfandiar by Dschengis, a confidante of his father, by sacrificing his own son. All other potential heirs to the throne of Isfandiar were killed on his behalf. Tifan spends his childhood and youth with Dschengis, whom he takes to be his father, in the valley without knowing his origins. After a trip through Asia, Tifan sits at the head of Scheschian's "Patriotic Party" and is elected the new king. Only after his election does the people find out that they have made the legitimate successor of Isfandiar their new ruler. This ends the anarchic states. Scheschian experienced its heyday under Tifan's rule. An ideal state emerges. In the later version (1794) it is also described how after the death of Tifan the great Scheschian empire perished over many generations.

The emir in the valley of nature's children

The valley of the children of nature is an internal narrative in the golden mirror. After an attack on him and his companions, an emir finds himself alone in the valley of the children of nature. The valley is a separation or spatial utopia, a utopian society that is spatially separated from the rest of society. There the emir meets an old man whose name is not mentioned. The old man introduces the emir to the philosophy of the community, which goes back to Psammis, the founder of the utopian valley community. He also explains the simple political organization to the newcomer.

people

  • Chess Gebal is the prince of Indostan.
  • Nurmahal is the favorite (beloved) chess Gebal.
  • Danischmende is the court philosopher of Schach-Gebals.
  • Ogul-Kan is a Tatar prince and conqueror of Scheschian.
  • Lili is Ogul-Kan's favorite.
  • Azor is the son of Ogul-Kan and Lili and Sheshian ruler after Ogul-Kan.
  • Alabanda is Azor's favorite.
  • Isfandiar is the son of Azor and Alabanda and Sheshian ruler after Azor.
  • Eblis is Isfandiar's advisor.
  • Tifan is the son of a brother from Azor and Sheshian ruler after Isfandiar.
  • Genghis is the educator Tifans.
  • emir
  • Psammis is the founder of the community of nature's children.
  • the old man stands before the children of nature as a father figure.

literature

Text output

  • First edition of the first version in 1772 .
  • The golden mirror or the kings of Scheschian, in: Wieland's works. Historical-critical edition, ed. by Klaus Manger and Jan Philipp Reemtsma, Volume 10.1 | 1 text, arr. by Hans-Peter Nowitzki and Tina Hartmann, Berlin / New York 2008, pp. 1–358. ( ISBN 978-3-11-022157-2 )
  • First edition of the second version in 1794.
  • The golden mirror or the kings of Scheschian, in: Christoph Martin Wieland. The golden mirror and other political seals. Notes and epilogue by Herbert Jaumann, Munich 1979, pp. 5–329. ( ISBN 3-538-05298-0 )

Web links