Schiller's Faith in a Democratic Society as Revealed in “William Tell”

Abstract

T IS the purpose of this paper to examine Schiller's William Tell for evidences of an early faith in and understanding of a democratic society. Certainly the drama always has been famed for its portrayal of the spirit of independence and liberty on the part of the Swiss people. But it appears that Schiller possessed other concepts and advocated other tenets beyond those contained in a simple desire for political freedom. Within democracy as it is known and aspired to in the relatively recent histories of western Europe and the United States, there are at least five essential characteristics. These may be called the quintessence of democracy; their presence within Schiller's drama, it is contended, demonstrates that Schiller's beliefs are not wholly those of the pre-French Revolution type but instead bear implicationrs for the present struggle against totalitarian tyranny and injustice within and without the United States. The first essential of a democratic society is, of course, that of freedom. Freedom is the ability and the opportunity to do what one wants to do, but in a democratic society the freedoms of the group and of the members of the group are inter-dependent. Among the values which appear to have been of the greatest importance to Schiller was that of inner freedom. Upon this inner freedom might be built a society in reflection of the free individual. And if the individual needs freedom, both within and without, and that freedom is his right, certainly the state should be based upon freedom. For it seems clear that the development of the state largely will reflect and follow the pattern of its component individuals. The yearning for true liberty is evident throughout William Tell. Gertrude, in the second scene of Act I, insists that freedom from tyranny, even through war, is important above all. She would even burn her cherished home if that were necessary to be free.