Dumka, Gisela2024-08-132024-08-1319851985https://hdl.handle.net/1828/17663Damnation and redemption are two opposing theological con­cepts which determine the development of Gryphius' and Schiller's historical protagonists Catharina von Georgien, Maria Stuart, and Johanna. Condemnation both sociopolitical and. psychological provides the medium through which this tension is presented in dramatic terms. This thesis examines the way in which both poets explore the conflicts within their respective literary contexts of Baroque, Classicism, and Romanticism. Gryphius treats damnation and redemption from a theological point of view, while Schiller, though rooted in Christian tradition, reflects the philosophical studies of his mature years. The thesis also deals with each heroine's triple function: each is an imprisoned ruler, a representative of religious convictions, and an attractive, feminine woman in conflict both with her antagonist and her own conscience. Gryphius' Catharina von Georgien demonstrates the Baroque belief that life on earth is a preparation for life after death; therefore eternal bliss is more important to her than temporary happiness. Thus her conflicts lead to renunciation and martyrdom. By contrast Schiller's classical Maria Stuart and his romantic Die Jungfrau von Orleans reveal the impact of secularisation. Both protagonists ultimately transcend their world and find their self­-realisation in the aesthetic and the divine. The theme of revenge in Christian tragedies emerges as a major source of ambivalence. Catharina's, Maria Stuart's, and Johanna's fight for political free­dom, and their inner struggle for spiritual strength and personal identity, are examined with reference to their social, religious, and psychological motives. Reflecting the protagonists transitions from the sensuous to the sublime the three "Trauerspiele" become "Freudenspiele" and affirm by their theme and structure the heroines' firm belief in the transcendental meaning' of life.127 pagesAvailable to the World Wide WebUN SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong InstitutionsThesis