Johann Wolfgang Goethe: Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre

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Fourth book:
The group leaves the castle and moves on. Wilhelm has become their leader. On their way
they are attacked and plundered. Wilhelm is wounded by a shot. A beautiful Amazon (die
„schöne Amazone“) and her companions (an „alter Herr“ and a „Wundarzt“) come by but
Wilhelm faints and when he wakes up again the beautiful woman is not there anymore.
Wilhelm, Mignon, the harpist and Philine have come through the attack and arrive at their
emergency accomodation where they can stay. There, they meet the others again. The group is
angry because they were attacked and they express their annoyance about Wilhelm being their
leader. Only Mignon and the harpist remain with Wilhelm. They move on and Wilhelm
constantly thinks of the beautiful Amazon. Then they meet Serlo, a theatre manager and
Wilhelm’s friend. Serlo introduces them to his sister Aurelie, who is an actress. Philine
spreads gossip about Aurelie having a love affair and being the mother of a three year old
boy, Felix. Philine reveals her love to Wilhelm.
Fifth book:
Wilhelm is successful with his performance of the play ‘Hamlet’. The theatre is burned down.
Wilhelm suspects that the harpist is insane and takes him to a priest because he thinks that the
harpist started the fire since he wanted to sacrifice Felix. Aurelie tells Wilhelm that she is ill.
A doctor visits her and he gives his friends a book, called „Bekenntnisse einer schönen
Seele“. Aurelie gives Wilhelm the task of delivering a letter to Lothar. She dies.
Sixth book:
The content of „Bekenntnisse einer schönen Seele“ is described in the sixth book of Wilhelm
Meisters Lehrjahre. One of Lothar’s aunts describes her religious life. Incidentally, the family
background becomes obvious: Lothario has a sister who is called Natalie.
Seventh book:
Wilhelm is on his way to Lothario with Aurelie’s letter. Wilhelm departs from the theatre
more and more, the actors do not follow his instructions anymore and his passion for the
theatre comes to an end. Wilhelm arrives at Lothario’s castle. Lothario is wounded and his
lover Lydie is always near him which does not help his recovery. Therefore, she is send to a
distant town and Wilhelm is supposed to be her companion. They travel to Therese. When
Wilhelm comes back to Lothario’a castle he is allowed to send for the children Mignon and
Felix. He realizes that the old woman, who looked after the children, is Barabara, Mariane’s
former nurse. She tells him the truth about Mariane and Felix. Wilhelm gets to know that
Felix is his son and that Mariane died after Felix’ birth.