On Lessing’s Tragedy Theory

Lessing is a famous eighteenth-century German esthetician, playwright, thinker, literary critic, in particular during the German Enlightenment, his profound understanding of the German dramatic literature should abandon the traditional model of French classicism. So great revolutionary spirit of the Enlightenment thinkers Lessing decided to go deeply, specifically set forth his theory of tragedy through two main entry points: the first is an entry point to sharp criticism and negative Corneille, Racine, represented Neoclassical theory of tragedy, the second entry point is actively inheritance and development of ancient Greek tragedy Aristotle purify said. This paper mainly analyzes the background and ideological origins Lessing concept tragedy produced, and objectively reviewed, explained the concept of main content Lessing tragedy, including the depiction of character, the actor’s performing arts, tragic moral education function, Features such as the public theater, and mainly from the perspective of historical and aesthetic look, evaluate the historical significance of Lessing’s tragedy and Contemporary value. In short, the theory is not only the tragedy of Lessing innovation and create a new genre of dramatic literature in Germany, becoming the first revolution in the history of German theater, giving the German national literature with new vigor and vitality, and his theory of tragedy in the West throughout the development process tragedy plays an important role in connecting link, Lessing and his view of the tragedy in the history of human thought has left an indelible greatness.