Europe After A Century: From 1774 to 1848 Essay

Time changes things. That is a fact and the changes are more pronounced especially after the passage of one hundred years. The land experiences geological changes and its people are transformed as knowledge increases through observation, other forms of learning as well as interaction with other people groups having different culture and outlook in life. But when comparing the changes that occurred in Europe between 1774 and 1848 the discussion is elevated to a higher level because this is the period in World history when radical changes swept through Europe and the rest of the world. This paper will look at the factors that created a degree of change never before seen in the history of mankind. Yet, in order to remain grounded and focused on the distinctly European changes, the works of two influential Western writers will be examined. And since Johann Wolfgang von Goethe completed his most important work in the late 18th century and Karl Marx on the other hand completed his masterpiece in the late 19th century, then these two men qualify as representatives of their time. Those who will read their works is like looking at a portal which one can see the differences between two European society in two different eras. Goethe’s Opus The portal that will allow time travel to this period is through Goethe’s famous work The Sorrows of Young Werther (â€Å"Werther†). And this is possible because Goethe mirrored his own frustration and passion to his masterpiece. In the introduction to a translated work of Werther Catherine Hutter pointed out that, â€Å"In 1772 Goethe spent the summer months in legal apprenticeship at the Reichskamergericht in the town of Wetzlar, the unnmaed locale of Werther† and there he fell in love with a woman – Charlotte Buff – who was destined to marry another man. Using Goethe’s own experience with heartbrokenness and using the town of Wetzlar as the backdrop allows the reader to get a glimpse of a bygone era. There are many who will agree to the assertion that this era is in the Age of Sentiment where emotions rule and people are overly romantic if there is such a thing. In other words it was a time not far removed from the Medieval ideals of chivalry and the strict cultural norms that are evident in many Christianized European societies. For modern lovers they may find Werther’s dramatic prose a bit too much for their taste and begin to wonder if there was indeed a time when men had to go exert so much effort in order to wed the women of his dreams. In the story of the young Werther the reader does not only get an insight as to the extent that a man will go secure the love of a woman but also the amount of energy and mental torture required analyzing their feelings. This self-torture was evident even from the onset when Werther described to his friend the sorrows of his heart. In the end young Werther’s heart could not take it any longer and he took a pistol and shot himself in the forehead. His goal was not only to drown his sorrows but more importantly he hopes that the news of his death will reach his beloved Leonora. And true enough a servant brought the bad tidings to his love and as soon as Leonora heard of it she fell on the floor senseless. That is perhaps the fitting reaction and that behavior would at least comfort the pained soul of Werther knowing that Leonora cares for him. Karl Marx’s Manifesto The year 1848 was a milestone in history. It was the same year when Karl Marx published his Manifesto of the Communist Party (â€Å"Manifesto†) From the get go there was no doubt in everyone’s mind that Marx’s work was a piece of brilliant work. Even those who may disagree with the author’s pronouncements and conclusions will have no choice but to concur that the Manifesto is indeed the product of an astute mind. Marx’s Manifesto serves as a systematic criticism of capitalism and the sensational work made the author as a man both hated and revered since 1848. Marx minced no words in saying that there is a continuing class struggle and that those who are in the position to dominate will never surrender their position of privilege and power. And that they will do everything that they can to maintain the status quo to the detriment of those who belong to the lower classes. In Goethe’s Europe (circa 1774) one cannot find a sharp distinction between classes. Although one can easily understand that there are cultural norms that created status this distinction between groups of people is not as pronounced as in the time of Marx when the political philosopher was able to categorize the ancient and general but distinct groupings: freeman and slaves; patrician and plebeian; lord and serf; guild master and journeyman; Rulers and their Subjects; and Oppressor and the Oppressed. To the above-mentioned grouping Karl Marx’s Manifesto added a new category and Marx explains that during the time of his writing European societies are slowly evolving into a more simpler class gradation. Marx explains that in 1848, â€Å"Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other – Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat. † And the new social phenomenon creates antagonism between the members of both camps. Those who belong to the Bourgeoisie are men and women are the capitalists, businessmen who have the means to build factories and other means of producing goods and services. These capitalists are then able to hire laborers. The Proletariat on the other hand obviously do not posses the means or the capital to build manufacturing plants and do not have enough money to put up a business that can offer services and so they become workers who are willing to sell their skills and strength to the highest bidder. It is not easy figuring the source of genius as evident in the writings of Marx but on the other hand it is easy to understand where Karl Marx is coming from. He was indeed the product of his time. He was born in a society reeling from the effects of industrialization. It was as if a new epoch was established, totally transforming the values and traditions of the past. Men and women find little time to debate and muse about philosophy, morality and even the deep emotions coming from a broken heart. Comparing Two Eras In circa 1774 the heart and emotions takes precedence according to the work of Goethe. Aside from the fact that this is already an observable characteristic of the era, Goethe famous literary piece greatly encouraged romantic and emotional behavior among the citizens of Europe. Whereas in 1848 one can sense that men and women are transformed into heartless machines devoid of the deep longings and romantic overtures similar to what one can find in Goethe’s work. The year 1848 signaled the end of romanticism and idealism. There is now a clear break between the Medieval and the Modern. In the same year that he published the Manifesto, there was a continuing exodus from the country to the city. A century earlier, specifically in 1774, money is very important – as has been the case for thousands of years. But a man can life in the rural areas, till the soil, become a farmer and through such labors one can expect to at least provide the basic necessities such as food, shelter and clothing. The lack of money is no problem because farmers can trade for goods that they need using farm produce. But in Marx’s time money became the supreme god. There is nothing that can be done without it. With minted coins one can purchase everything including the heart and soul of men. In Marx’s progressive and modern cities where men and women were reduced to something a little bit higher than slaves their ability to trade or negotiate was reduced to zero. They can no longer decide the right time for rest and to find a way to get a better return for their labor for their income is fixed by hourly wages. And because of the new system – the daily or weekly cycle of receiving wages after a time of hard work – gave the new masters the ability to impose work schedules and production quotas irregardless if this is beneficial to the workers or not. There is indeed a high contrast to the social structure, cultural norms and behavior fo the people living in the time of Goethe as compared to those who lived in the time of Marx. Marx’s description of the modern world is full of dread that it invites a few to share what he has seen. On the other hand there is a need for an intense emotional outburst in order to feel what Goethe has seen but his problems are nothing compared to what described as the new social phenomenon of man working for crumbs when there are a few who are lording it over them. In the two masterpieces the world has seen what it was like to live in two different eras. What is surprising is the fact that it only took a mere century to transform what is idyllic and what is a laid back life into something as hellish as urban decay and people forced to work as much as 24/7 in order to simply supply the basic necessities of life. The tragedy of Werther is lost love but Marx society allowed for losing the souls of men.