Wilhelm Meister

Figures and characters

Appears in 3 videos · 7 passages, 7 of them in depth.

What Dominique Pagani says

Dominique Pagani makes Wilhelm Meister the figure of the young Romantic bourgeois whose path leads to integration into society. He describes a dreamer whom the "prose of the world" sets back on course and who ends up a businessman1. He sees in him a balance found in business and everyday life2, and a trajectory that ends in a utilitarian cosmopolitanism3. Above all, he returns to Wilhelm's relationship with Mignon: Wilhelm saves her, or buys her freedom, she becomes attached to him, he is fascinated by her, then he forgets her for another woman and moves on4 5. He reports Wagner's reading, according to which the crime Mignon suffered does not stop Wilhelm, who receives a fine education6. From 2021 to 2024, he draws on him in different contexts: reflection on music, Mignon's song, then the question of identity. Yet he always keeps the same trait: a young bourgeois who ends up fitting into society7.

Summary produced automatically from 7 of the passages below, to be reviewed; the numbers link to the moment in the session.

Series · 7 Apr 2021#1 Mignon, or the song of silence

28:06A young Romantic bourgeois who finds balance in business and everyday life.
39:35He saves Mignon, who becomes attached to him, then forgets her for another woman.
55:25According to Wagner, he is not stopped by the crime suffered by Mignon and receives a fine education.

Season 12 · 4 Jan 2024I am not who you think I am - The elusive identity

12:12A young bourgeois who ends up integrated into society.
29:57Buys Mignon, is fascinated by her, then moves on to other things.

Series · 25 Mar 2021Musicosophy 18. What is musical in music

21:14A bourgeois son who ends up in a utilitarian cosmopolitanism.
35:58A dreamer brought back onto the path by the prose of the world, who ends up a businessman.