Book Review: Nathan the Wise
Out of the Enlightenment grew revolutionary ideas which benefited many aspects of society. The most conducive idea to the betterment of nations was that of religious tolerance. This is portrayed with dynamic expression in Gotthold Ephraim Lessing’s book, Nathan the Wise. This story is a direct reflection as Lessing’s beliefs and is favorable to those of the Jewish faith, but drew criticism from Christians because of their representation as anti-Semitic. This was reflected on the Templar’s opinion of how just because Nathan was wealthy, did not mean he was a good man (55). There is also an underlying theme of the resentment felt by many Christians of the time towards the Jewish people based on the event of Christ’s crucifixion.
Lessing provides several examples explaining why, exactly, Nathan is wise. To follow the theme of the story, Nathan is very tolerant of other religions. Nathan is shown to be so when he raises his daughter Recha to worship God, but not to sign on to the rituals of any single religion. (32) This story is depicted before the idea of predestination, but was written at a time when this idea was widely considered to be true among many social groups in Europe. Nathan could therefore be considered wise because he was a wealthy merchant (42, 51, 55). He also had a reputation of being, in a way, generous. He often gives to the poor, but is rather parsimonious as he gives only a little (51). Nathan could also be described as enlightened and also, in a way, pragmatic, as he does not assume to know things.
Nathan is used throughout the book, in conjunction with other characters, to reflect Lessing’s views on women and various religious faiths. He explains throughout the story that there is not one “true” religion (56-57, 70). The most prominent example of this idea is when Saladin asks Nathan which religion is the true one. Nathan began to tell a story of a man who had a ring which would assure that the owner was always in God’s grace and this ring was always passed from the owner down to the son who was the father’s favorite. He told the story of how the ring was passed down through the generations, but came upon a father who loved all of his sons equally. He solved this dilemma by having two other rings made which was an exact copy of the original. He gave the rings to his sons and did not reveal which one had the special ring. A judge declared that they must simply live their lives in such a way that it will prove that they have the true blessed ring (71-72). Nathan then explained to the Sultan that the “true ring was indistinguishable, almost as indistinguishable as the true religion is to us.” (72)
Lessing uses an idea of sorority among Christian woman to depict Daja and Recha as more loyal to each other than to Nathan. Daja meets with the Templar in secret and confides in him that Recha is not of Jewish origin at all, but that she is a Christian (80). This is important because Daja is Christian as well, even though she works for Nathan. The story then engages in the discussion about the one “true” religion as the Templar meets with the local religious Patriarch to discuss what to do with Nathan. Daja had told the Templar that Nathan had stolen Recha as a baby and raised her Jewish. This was punishable by death in Jerusalem at the time. The Templar meets with the Patriarch, but will not disclose Nathan’s identity to him (85).
The overall message of Lessing’s work is to not be so quick to dismiss another faith based upon one or two conflicting beliefs. He wants to put a larger emphasis on the effects of religion on society. He makes many references, such as the story of the three rings, that being a good Christian or a good Jew does not automatically make you a good person. Lessing was a strong advocate of religious freedom, even at times defending the Christian faith. He gives us his strongest argument for religious similarities at the end of the play when it is revealed that Recha is the sister of the Templar and both of them are children of the Sultan’s brother (118). This forced Recha’s religious identity to jump back and forth from Jewish, to Christian, and then finally to Muslim.
Lessing used many ideas and experiences from his own life in the story. Lessing modeled Nathan after his very good friend, Moses Mendelssohn. Lessing reinforces this idea, through Nathan, that your citizenship should be the most prominent factor in determining their identity, rather than the religion you practice (56, 57). This was offered as a potential solution for much religious intoleration which was spreading across Europe during Lessing’s day.
Lessing’s work, surprisingly, has much relevance in contemporary times. The most relevant theme in the story which relates to the world today has to do with the Templar. In the story, the Templar was responsible in many ways for mending relations with Nathan and the Sultan. This can be seen as a direct reflection of the role the United States is playing in the Middle East with the effort of mending relations between Israel and the Muslim world. Many might also say that there is an increased unification of Christian and Protestant faiths in ideas only; this pairs with the contemporary idea of diversity and tolerance. Many spiritual individuals have begun to lower their practice of religious superiority and embrace followers of other faiths based on their character.
Lessing was successful in, not only reflecting the enlightened ideas of the time, but writing a story which would inspire discussion and force the reader to examine what was more important, their religion, or their caliber of being. Lessing was very diplomatic as to not offend any particular group of people, but distinguishes the problems of his day and provides potential solutions for them. He provided a conclusion as to what will happen if all three monotheistic religions would exist peacefully and lightened the sensation surrounding this idea by inserting it into an entertaining theatrical production. Lessing was successful by this action because hundreds of years later, we are still discussing his ideas.
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. Nathan the Wise. trans Ronald Schechter. Beford St. Martin: New York, 2004.
Lessing provides several examples explaining why, exactly, Nathan is wise. To follow the theme of the story, Nathan is very tolerant of other religions. Nathan is shown to be so when he raises his daughter Recha to worship God, but not to sign on to the rituals of any single religion. (32) This story is depicted before the idea of predestination, but was written at a time when this idea was widely considered to be true among many social groups in Europe. Nathan could therefore be considered wise because he was a wealthy merchant (42, 51, 55). He also had a reputation of being, in a way, generous. He often gives to the poor, but is rather parsimonious as he gives only a little (51). Nathan could also be described as enlightened and also, in a way, pragmatic, as he does not assume to know things.
Nathan is used throughout the book, in conjunction with other characters, to reflect Lessing’s views on women and various religious faiths. He explains throughout the story that there is not one “true” religion (56-57, 70). The most prominent example of this idea is when Saladin asks Nathan which religion is the true one. Nathan began to tell a story of a man who had a ring which would assure that the owner was always in God’s grace and this ring was always passed from the owner down to the son who was the father’s favorite. He told the story of how the ring was passed down through the generations, but came upon a father who loved all of his sons equally. He solved this dilemma by having two other rings made which was an exact copy of the original. He gave the rings to his sons and did not reveal which one had the special ring. A judge declared that they must simply live their lives in such a way that it will prove that they have the true blessed ring (71-72). Nathan then explained to the Sultan that the “true ring was indistinguishable, almost as indistinguishable as the true religion is to us.” (72)
Lessing uses an idea of sorority among Christian woman to depict Daja and Recha as more loyal to each other than to Nathan. Daja meets with the Templar in secret and confides in him that Recha is not of Jewish origin at all, but that she is a Christian (80). This is important because Daja is Christian as well, even though she works for Nathan. The story then engages in the discussion about the one “true” religion as the Templar meets with the local religious Patriarch to discuss what to do with Nathan. Daja had told the Templar that Nathan had stolen Recha as a baby and raised her Jewish. This was punishable by death in Jerusalem at the time. The Templar meets with the Patriarch, but will not disclose Nathan’s identity to him (85).
The overall message of Lessing’s work is to not be so quick to dismiss another faith based upon one or two conflicting beliefs. He wants to put a larger emphasis on the effects of religion on society. He makes many references, such as the story of the three rings, that being a good Christian or a good Jew does not automatically make you a good person. Lessing was a strong advocate of religious freedom, even at times defending the Christian faith. He gives us his strongest argument for religious similarities at the end of the play when it is revealed that Recha is the sister of the Templar and both of them are children of the Sultan’s brother (118). This forced Recha’s religious identity to jump back and forth from Jewish, to Christian, and then finally to Muslim.
Lessing used many ideas and experiences from his own life in the story. Lessing modeled Nathan after his very good friend, Moses Mendelssohn. Lessing reinforces this idea, through Nathan, that your citizenship should be the most prominent factor in determining their identity, rather than the religion you practice (56, 57). This was offered as a potential solution for much religious intoleration which was spreading across Europe during Lessing’s day.
Lessing’s work, surprisingly, has much relevance in contemporary times. The most relevant theme in the story which relates to the world today has to do with the Templar. In the story, the Templar was responsible in many ways for mending relations with Nathan and the Sultan. This can be seen as a direct reflection of the role the United States is playing in the Middle East with the effort of mending relations between Israel and the Muslim world. Many might also say that there is an increased unification of Christian and Protestant faiths in ideas only; this pairs with the contemporary idea of diversity and tolerance. Many spiritual individuals have begun to lower their practice of religious superiority and embrace followers of other faiths based on their character.
Lessing was successful in, not only reflecting the enlightened ideas of the time, but writing a story which would inspire discussion and force the reader to examine what was more important, their religion, or their caliber of being. Lessing was very diplomatic as to not offend any particular group of people, but distinguishes the problems of his day and provides potential solutions for them. He provided a conclusion as to what will happen if all three monotheistic religions would exist peacefully and lightened the sensation surrounding this idea by inserting it into an entertaining theatrical production. Lessing was successful by this action because hundreds of years later, we are still discussing his ideas.
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. Nathan the Wise. trans Ronald Schechter. Beford St. Martin: New York, 2004.
posted by Shawn Niemann | 12:12 PM
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