''Clavigo'' is a five- act

tragedy Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy ...

written by

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as t ...

in 1774. The lead role is taken by

Pierre Beaumarchais Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (; 24 January 1732 – 18 May 1799) was a French polymath. At various times in his life, he was a watchmaker, inventor, playwright, musician, diplomat, spy, publisher, horticulturist, arms dealer, satirist, ...

. The

play Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * P ...

was written in just eight days in May 1774. It was published by July 1774 and is the first printed work to which

Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as tr ...

put his own name, although the play was received with disfavour. The first performance of the play was by the '' Ackermannschen Gesellschaft'' in

Hamburg Hamburg (, ; nds, label=Hamburg German, Low Saxon, Hamborg ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (german: Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg; nds, label=Low Saxon, Friee un Hansestadt Hamborg),. is the List of cities in Germany by popul ...

on 23 August 1774. It is based on the offer of marriage that the Canarian writer

José Clavijo y Fajardo José Clavijo y Fajardo (19 March 1726 in Teguise, Lanzarote – 3 November 1806), was a Spanish journalist. Life He was born on Lanzarote ( Canary Islands). He settled in Madrid, became editor of ''El Pensador'', and by his campaign against th ...

made to the sister of

Beaumarchais Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (; 24 January 1732 – 18 May 1799) was a French polymath. At various times in his life, he was a watchmaker, inventor, playwright, musician, diplomat, spy, publisher, horticulturist, arms dealer, satirist, ...

. During the 1970s, ''Clavigo'' was adapted as a

TV movie A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

External links

''Clavigo''
1902 translation Archive.org

from a 1999

Glasgow Citizen's Theatre The Citizens Theatre, in what was the Royal Princess's Theatre, is the creation of James Bridie and is based in Glasgow, Scotland as a principal producing theatre. The theatre includes a 500-seat Main Auditorium, and has also included various s ...

production
Notes
from a 1999 Opéra National de Paris ballet version
''Clavigo''
YouTube ---- Plays by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1774 plays Plays based on real people German plays adapted into films {{1770s-play-stub