Aufklärung und Geheimnis

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This work explores the history and social functions of secret societies in 18th-century Germany, beginning with an introduction to the social history of Enlightenment arcane societies. It delves into the Freemasonry movement, the Illuminati, and the Order of the Golden and Rosy Cross, examining their roles during the French Revolution and the public discourse surrounding secret societies in the late 18th century. The text further discusses the tension between utopia and reform in Freemasonry, particularly through the lens of Lessing and Herder's discussions. The second chapter focuses on the interplay between secrecy and literature, analyzing narrative implications and the processes of literary adaptation of secret society materials in both fictional and non-fictional prose of the late 18th century. It addresses the challenges of the secret society novel and its genre-specific implications. The third chapter presents text analyses of key works, including Schiller's "Der Geisterseher," Wieland's "Peregrinas Proteus und Agathodämon," and Moritz's "Fragmente aus dem Tagebuche eines Geistersehers." Finally, the fourth chapter explores the appropriation of secret society themes in novels at the end of the 18th century, supported by a comprehensive sources and literature list.