Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in Frankfurt, Germany to a wealthy family. Because of his family's station in life, Goethe had the privileges of affluence and education that allowed him to study all the common subjects of the day and to specialize in languages and literature. Goethe attended the University of Leipzig where he studied law, though he left to go to Strasbourg where he finished his studies. While in Strasbourg, his literary and philosophical talent was allowed to flourish. His first play, Götz von Berlichingen, was an immediate success across Germany.
Goethe epitomized the Renaissance man in his roles of poet, novelist, scientist, administrator, and critic. Some have...
