The Character of the “Uncle” in Goethe’s Novel Wilhelm Meister
In Wilhelm Meister, the figure of the uncle first appears in the Bekenntnisse einer schönen Seele (“confessions of a beautiful soul”), a piece situated structurally at the center of the novel (although the uncle’s castle will play a role later in the novel). The following excerpts are sufficiently self-contained to clarify Caroline’s allusion and, moreover, her gentle critique of Brabeck himself when compared with the uncle.
A familiarity with the secondary characters in the novel is not necessary for understanding Caroline’s allusions. I am citing extensively from these passages to illuminate not only Caroline’s distinctions between the uncle and Brabeck, but also various, virtually parallel comments in Wilhelm’s review and the anonymous article in Der Neue Teutsche MerkurWilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship, trans. R. Dillon Boylan (London 1867), 374–82 (book vi of the novel):
The ceremony [of the writer’s sister’s wedding] was appointed to take place at my uncle’s castle; family and friends were all invited, and they attended in the highest spirits.
For the first time in my life my entrance into a house excited my astonishment. It is true that I had often heard the highest encomiums passed upon my uncle’s taste, as well as upon his Italian architect, his costly museum and extensive library, but as I had only compared these things with what I had already seen, the impression in my mind was but vague and indistinct. I was surprised, therefore, at the solemn and harmonious effect which was produced upon me as I entered my uncle’s house, and which was deepened by the appearance of every room and corridor.
In other places pomp and decoration had only distracted my attention, but here I felt that all my mental faculties were collected and concentrated together. And so all these preparations for festivals and ceremonials awakened within me a secret pleasure, from the dignity and splendour by which I was surrounded, and it seemed to me as incomprehensible that one individual could have invented and arranged all this, as that a number of persons could have combined to work together in so exalted a spirit. And yet the host and his family and dependents were perfectly natural in their conduct, there was no trace of stiffness or of empty ceremony to be observed. . . .
The mirth of the company, amongst whom were many young people, was the more remarkable as in other respects the entertainment was serious and dignified. The furniture, the china, the plate, and ornaments were all in perfect harmony, and if the provider and the architect seemed to have emanated from the same school, it would appear in the present instance that the butler had derived some advantage from their instructions.
As we did not separate for several days, our intelligent host had provided, in various ways, for the entertainment of his guests. I did not upon the present occasion renew my experience of the wretched manner in which mixed company is generally entertained when they are thrown upon their own resources, or of the common and vapid amusements to which upon such occasions they have recourse, as if the dull guests were to be amused at the expense of the intelligent.
My uncle’s arrangements were upon a different plan. He had appointed two or three stewards, if I may use the expression, to whom was entrusted the charge of providing amusement for the young people. They superintended the dances, the excursions, and the small games; and as the guests seemed partial to the open air, and did not fear the cold, the garden and the large hall had been allotted to them, in which some pavilions and galleries had been erected in a temporary manner, but in such noble and elegant proportions that they seemed to be constructed of stone and marble.
How rarely does a fête occur in which the host feels that it is incumbent upon him to provide his guests with every species of accommodation and entertainment. In the present instance the amusements had all been previously arranged. Hunting and card parties had been projected, agreeable promenades laid out, and opportunities provided for confidential intercourse amongs the elder guests.
And those who were accustomed to retire at an early hour to rest found their quarters situated at a distance from all noise and disturbance. By this fortunate management our habitation quite resembled a little world, and yet the castle was but small, and nothing but a perfect knowledge of its capabilities, coupled with the intelligent spirit of the owner, could have enabled him to furnish such admirable accommodation for so many guests.
If the appearance of a graceful person affords pleasure, so also does the aspect of a well conducted establishment, where the presence of a rational and intelligent mind is plainly perceptible. We experience a feeling of joy upon entering a cleanly house, even though in its structure and decorations there may be a total absence of taste, because it proves that a person is present whose mind, in at least one sense, it cultivated. But our pleasure is doubled when from a human dwelling we are addressed by the spirit of a higher culture, even though it be of a sensual nature.
I became strongly sensible of all this upon visiting my uncle’s castle. I had become acquainted with art, both by reading and conversation. Philo moreover was fond of pictures, of which he had a large collection, and I had myself frequently practised drawing, but I had been too deeply engaged with my own emotions, to feel any great relish for pursuits which bore no relation to the one thing needful, and all things which I now beheld appeared to me in the light of worldly matters, calculated to distract my thoughts.
But now, for the first time, I was led by the contemplation of outward objects, to cast a look upon my own condition, and to my great astonishment I learned to understand the difference between the natural melody of the nightingale’s song, and the effect of an halleluja composed for four voices, and chanted by the expressive organs of men.
I did not conceal my satisfaction from my uncle, upon making this discovery, as he was accustomed, when the rest of the company were fully engaged, to enter into conversation with me. He evinced great modesty in speaking of whatever he possessed or had produced, but he spoke with decision of the judgment with which the various objects had been selected and arranged. . . .
He answered as follows . . . “The greatest merit of man consists in his ability to control events, and in preventing himself from being controlled by them. The whole world lies before us like a huge quarry before an architect, and he only deserves the name of man, who out of this accidental mass, can fashion with the greatest economy, ingenuity, and durability, some form, the conception of which has arisen in his own mind. . . .
He directed my attention to the different paintings which ornamented the apartment. My attention was attracted by those of which the appearance was beautiful or the subject interesting. He watched me in silence for a short time and then observed, “Bestow a little attention upon the genius which has executed these works.” . . .
He then pointed out to me some pictures of less pretension, took pains to explain that the history of art alone could render us capable of comprehending the value and dignity of works of art, that we should know the weary paths of mechanism and labour, along which the man of industry has toiled for centuries, before we can understand how it is possible for genius to move with airy freedom on the lofty pinnacle whose mere aspect is sufficient to render us giddy.
With this view he had formed a collection of beautiful works of art, and whilst he directed my attention to them, I could not avoid believing that I saw before me a correct type of moral culture. . . .
During this time, Philo had been employing himself in the library, to which he now introduced me. We admired the selection as well as the number of books. They had been arranged upon a certain plan, and either furnished us with correct knowledge, or taught us right arrangement, providing us with proper materials for thought, or satisfying the wants of the mind. . . .
At the same time, we made the acquaintance of a very interesting but unobtrusive personage. He was a physician and a naturalist . . . He pointed out the natural curiosities which, like the books, were enclosed in glass cases, ornamenting and ennobling the apartment which they did not overcrowd. . . .
From the day of my sister’s nuptials, joy had sparkled in my uncle’s eyes, and he frequently conversed with me of his intentions towards her and her children. He possessed a handsome estate which he superintended himself, and which he hoped to bequeath to his nephew in the most favourable condition. He seemed to have some special views with respect to the small property upon which we resided. “I intend to bequeath it,” he would say, “to some person who can understand how to appreciate and enjoy what it contains, and who can feel that a man of wealth and position, particularly in Germany, is required to shew a worthy example to others.”