Summary Of Effi Briest

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Q: Analyse the character of Effi Briest in Fontane’s novel and critically comment on her fate as part of Fontane’s concerns regarding the cultural legitimacy of the Junker class to lead German society in the final years of the 19th century, but also to what extent Effi is to blame for her own misfortunes.

Effi Briest, a realist novel written by Theodore Fontane and published in 1896. This novel forms a story around a female character’s point of view of a socially arranged marriage to a man 21 years her senior, resulting in a story of adultery and ultimately tragedy. This essay aims to analyse the character of Effi Briest, with critical commentary on her tragic fate as part of Fontane’s concerns with regard to the cultural legitimacy of the Junker class to lead the German society in the final years of the 19th century. The essay will go on further to make comment on the extent that Effi is to blame for her own misfortunes in the novel.

Effi Briest, when we meet her in the novel is a 17-year-old girl, who can be considered a carefree, and happy child. Her adolescence is revealed early in the novel, when she is doing some embroidery with her mother (Luise), and appears to be restless when taking part. This image is furtherly painted by the author when the reader sees Effi playing a game of tag with her middle class friends Hulda, Hertha and Bertha, in chapter 2, when she knows she has to meet someone important later, but wants some more time to play with her friends. “…Effi was off up the nearest gravel path, dodging left and right until suddenly she was gone. ‘Effi, that doesn’t count. Where are you? We’re not playing hide and seek, we’re playing tag.’” (Chapter 2). This childishness that Effi embodies is significant, as it casts ...

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...lame, for arranging an unsuitable marriage, between two completely opposite people, only for her social and financial gain, ignoring her personality completely. Innstetten holds some accountability in the matter, as he was so unsuitable for Effi, and he did not try to relate to her emotionally or physically, leaving her feeling totally isolated. Major Von Crampas is blameable too, as he took advantage of Effi, and led a major role in her exclusion from society. Fontane means to conclude that it is not a single one of these characters that plays a role in Effi’s fall, but the society itself that influences the individual character’s thought processes that causes Effi’s misfortunes, and ultimately her death. It is possible to believe that in Fontane’s text, he leaves the interpretation for society, in the hopes that they will fix their socially guided ways.

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