AbstractsWomens Studies

It is the confirmed opinion of the majority of critics that Schiller's genius proclaimed itself in the portrayal of strong, manly, and heroic characters, and that the tenderness, gentleness, and delicateness of his female characters were for him a background for the stronger types of the opposite sex. Be that as it may, their realism and accurate characterization make them equally as important as the more dominant male characters, and worthy of the most careful study. It is my purpose in this paper to prove that Schiller's superior mental ability is also shown in his feminine characters. Although they play minor parts in the greater number of his dramas, they are just as precisely and correctly drawn as his principal characters. They will be a fresh source of interest and instruction for succeeding generations, and a lasting monument to his wonderful genius because of their trueness to life and the intensely human emotions which govern their lives and actions.