Abstract
Heinrich von Kleist's Das Erdbeben in Chili (1807) has fascinated readers for two centuries. The tale of Josephe, Jeronimo, and the tiny Philipp combines many elements—a love affair, an illegitimate child, a natural disaster, a massacre outside a house of God—of tremendous storytelling. This article reconsiders the conventional understanding of some parts of this story. It focuses in particular on Kleist's presentation of certain constellations of family members and suggests that the family structure is not as sound as it may seem. By examining some of the mysterious statements and the interactions among the central characters in the story, this article highlights the interpretive challenge that the reader of Das Erdbeben faces. It seeks further to illuminate more generally connections among narration, truth and the act of reading.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
