Abstract

In the Age of Goethe major legal reforms occurred, which are reflected in the works of numerous writers. One of these authors is Heinrich von Kleist, who brings together different legal concepts in his novella Michael Kohlhaas (1810) and sets them in a conflicting relationship. Kleist, who is usually seen as being ahead of his time, not only reflects on the procedural reforms of the Age of Goethe but also anticipates reforms that will soon follow. What is often overlooked in discussions of Michael Kohlhaas is that the protagonist of the novella is not a typical avenger; he does not ignore current law in order to take the law into his own hands, rather he tries to draw attention to a corrupted juridical system in need of reform. As “one of the most righteous individuals of his time,” Kohlhaas insists on a fair legal procedure and even accepts a death sentence as its consequence. It is not by chance that Kleist chooses the genre of the novella for his adaption of a historical case story: in German, Novelle can name the literary genre, as well as a revision of current law (Gesetzesnovelle).

摘要

歌德时代发生了重大的法律改革，这反映在众多作家的作品中。其中一位作者是海因里希·冯·克莱斯特，他在他的中篇小说迈克尔·科尔哈斯 ( Michael Kohlhaas ) (1810)中汇集了不同的法律概念，并将它们置于一种相互冲突的关系中。通常被视为领先于时代的克莱斯特不仅反思了歌德时代的程序改革，还预测了即将到来的改革。在讨论Michael Kohlhaas时经常被忽视的内容是中篇小说的主角不是典型的复仇者；他并没有为了将法律掌握在自己手中而忽视现行法律，而是试图引起人们对需要改革的腐败司法制度的关注。作为“他那个时代最正义的人之一”，科尔哈斯坚持公平的法律程序，甚至接受死刑作为其后果。克莱斯特选择中篇小说的体裁来改编一个历史案例并非偶然：在德语中，Novelle可以命名文学体裁，以及对现行法律的修订（Gesetzesnovelle）。