Great analysis of Büchner ;-) As for the second question, I think there should be a serious debate on the relation between history and fiction, because 1) fiction is used as a source of historical knowledge 2) writers of fiction refuse ANY rensponsibility as far as veracity is considered, even dealing with real people and events. These two phenomena are highly incompatible. At least, the school should make people aware of this problem. The movie Danton has caused a lot of damage, too. Sometimes, especially in France, it is viewed in class as a part of a wide debate, based on previous knowledge of FR and introducing the polemics it arouse, too. Then it's ok for me. However, often it is shown as a teaching tool in history classes on the FR. That can have similar disastrous effects as those you describe. And again, all this Danton-supermale, Robespierre effeminate sissy: oh, progress, where are you? Yes, Büchner and Rolland's Danton and Robespierre resemble quite a lot, if you think of Rolland's play Danton. Robespierre "changes" radically in Rolland's Robespierre, though. And please, do digress, your analysis very interesting!
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As for the second question, I think there should be a serious debate on the relation between history and fiction, because 1) fiction is used as a source of historical knowledge 2) writers of fiction refuse ANY rensponsibility as far as veracity is considered, even dealing with real people and events. These two phenomena are highly incompatible. At least, the school should make people aware of this problem.
The movie Danton has caused a lot of damage, too. Sometimes, especially in France, it is viewed in class as a part of a wide debate, based on previous knowledge of FR and introducing the polemics it arouse, too. Then it's ok for me. However, often it is shown as a teaching tool in history classes on the FR. That can have similar disastrous effects as those you describe. And again, all this Danton-supermale, Robespierre effeminate sissy: oh, progress, where are you?
Yes, Büchner and Rolland's Danton and Robespierre resemble quite a lot, if you think of Rolland's play Danton. Robespierre "changes" radically in Rolland's Robespierre, though. And please, do digress, your analysis very interesting!