Sexuality in the Literature of the Wilhelminian Empire

Fritz König

Titles

Abstract

Abstract

This paper is based on a Memorandum about Conditions Regarding Prostitution, published by the Federation of German Women’s Associations in 1904. This publication makes it evident that German women had organized into a political force to be reckoned with in the future. The topic is prostitution. Prostitution, obviously, should be fought, brothels (advocated by German physicians and sociologists) should be abolished, but so called “free prostitution” should be tolerated for the time being, because its eradication is a distant goal.

the paper then tries to outline the literary treatment of prostitution and women’s cause in general in Wilhelminian/Victorian Europe, discussing such works as Ghosts by the Norwegian Henrik Ibsen, Bahnwärter Thiel by Gerhart Hauptmann, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, Effi Briest by Theodor Fontane, Lieutenant Gustl by the Austrian Arthur Schnitzler, and Nana by Emile Zola. All these works, and, of course, many other could have been considered, explore the fate of women and their social repression in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The paper concludes with a brief outline of how women’s mental, emotional, and physical functions and conditions were viewed. The theories and assumptions by contemporary scientists, viewed 125 years later, are truly amazing.

This paper is based on a Memorandum about Conditions Regarding Prostitution, published by the Federation of German Women’s Associations in 1904. This publication makes it evident that German women had organized into a political force to be reckoned with in the future. The topic is prostitution. Prostitution, obviously, should be fought, brothels (advocated by German physicians and sociologists) should be abolished, but so called “free prostitution” should be tolerated for the time being, because its eradication is a distant goal.

the paper then tries to outline the literary treatment of prostitution and women’s cause in general in Wilhelminian/Victorian Europe, discussing such works as Ghosts by the Norwegian Henrik Ibsen, Bahnwärter Thiel by Gerhart Hauptmann, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, Effi Briest by Theodor Fontane, Lieutenant Gustl by the Austrian Arthur Schnitzler, and Nana by Emile Zola. All these works, and, of course, many other could have been considered, explore the fate of women and their social repression in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The paper concludes with a brief outline of how women’s mental, emotional, and physical functions and conditions were viewed. The theories and assumptions by contemporary scientists, viewed 125 years later, are truly amazing.

Keywords

brothels, contraception, divorce, duel, impotence, love, prostitution, marriage, masturbation, menstruation, morality, relationship, religion, sexuality, Women’s Associations.

References

Austen J., Pride and Prejudice, London 1964.

Betts B.F., Symptomatic Indications of Remedies for Subinvolution of the Uterus, “The Hahnemannian Monthly” 1889, March, no 190.

Brontë E., Wuthering Heights, Baltimore 1951.

Culverwell R.J., Medical Counseling, or The Green Book: The Modern Treatment of Syphilis… and All Disease of Urinary and Sexual Organs, London 1841.

Fontane T. Effi Briest, Frankfurt 1980.

Fowler O.S., Private Lectures on Perfect Men, Women and Children, in Happy Families: Including Gender, Love, Mating, Married Life, and Reproduction, or Paternity, Maternity, Infancy, and Puberty, New York 1880.

Hauptmann G., Bahnwärter Thiel, Stuttgart 1955.

Hoff Ch.A., Highways and Byways to Health, St. Louis 1887.

Hudson G.W., The Marriage Guide for Young Men: A Manual of Courtship and Marriage, Ellsworth, ME, 1883.

Ibsen H., Ghosts and Other Plays, Baltimore 1964.

Jefferis B.G., Nicholas J.L., Search Lights on Health: Light on Dark Corners; A Complete Sexual Science and a Guide to Purity and Physical Manhood, Advice to Maiden, Wife, and Mother, Love, Courtship, and Marriage, Naperville, IL, 1895.

Kellogg J.H., Ladies’ Guide in Health and Disease: Girlhood, Maidenhood, Wifehood, Motherhood… Illustrated, Des Moines, IA, 1884.

Napheys G.H., The Physical Life of Woman: Advice to the Maiden, Wife and Mother, Philadelphia 1888.

Oneill T., Unmentionable, New York 2016.

Sante L., The Other Paris, New York 2015.

Scheven K., Denkschrift über die in Deutschland bestehenden Verhältuisse in Bezug auf das Bordellwesen, Dresden 1904.

Schnitzler A., Lieutenant Gustl, Stuttgart 2002.

Warren S., The Wife’s Guide and Friend: Being Plain and Practical Advice to Women on the Management of Themselves During Pregnancy and Confinement, and on Other Matters of Importance That Should Be Known by Every Wife and Mother, London 1900.

Zola E., Nana, Paris 1880.

Information

Information: Studia Litteraria Universitatis Iagellonicae Cracoviensis, 2017, Volume 12, Issue 3, pp. 199 - 208

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4467/20843933ST.17.016.7582

Article type: Original article

Titles:

Polish:

Sexuality in the Literature of the Wilhelminian Empire

English:

Sexuality in the Literature of the Wilhelminian Empire

Authors

Fritz König

Krosno State College

Published at: 22.01.2018

Article status: Open

Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Percentage share of authors:

Fritz König (Author) - 100%

Article corrections:

-

Publication languages:

English

View count: 947

Number of downloads: 929

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