José Ortega y Gasset. Work notes on Goethe. First part

Abstract

The figure and work of Goethe is one of the subjects most studied by Ortega. In the light of the work of the German writer, the philosopher from Madrid outlines his idea of “vocation” and uses it as an archetype to develop his raciovitalism and apply it to the contemporary European situation. Although his reading of Goethe is early, as his Complete Works attest, and he acquires the first volumes of studies on Goethe during his first stays in Germany at the beginning of the century, there are two main focuses of his work on Goethe. The first, around 1932, for the preparation of the essays “Pidiendo un Goethe desde dentro” and “Goethe, el libertador” which he would include in his work Goethe from Within. The second, around 1949, when he gave a series of lectures on Goethe in the USA, Germany and, finally, Spain. These two focuses are due to the public projections of Ortega's interest in Goethe, which is constant and is endorsed by the work notes he takes on the basis of his reading, taking advantage of the centenary of the literary figure's death (1832) and the bicentenary of his birth (1749), respectively.