Der gestiefelte Kater

by Ludwig Tieck

Tiecks Gestiefelter Kater ist als Schauspiel eines Schauspiels konzipiert, ist eine Balanceakt auf einem Grenzpunkt zwischen Tiefsinn und Unsinn, ein geistreich-witziges Spiel mit der Illusion, mit mehreren Spielebenen und Rollendimensionen. Es realisiert romantische Ironie als Spiegelung des Stücks im Stück: Inhalt des Theaterstücks ist ein missglückter Theaterabend, der halb scheiternde Versuch einer fiktiven Theatertruppe, das Märchenstück eines fiktiven Autors vor einem fiktiven Publikum aufzuführen.

Genres: Classics, Plays, German Literature, Drama, School, Romanticism, Fiction

87 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1797

About the author

Johann Ludwig Tieck was a German poet, translator, editor, novelist, and critic, who was part of the Romantic movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Tieck's importance lay in the readiness with which he adapted himself to the new ideas which arose at the close of the 18th century, rather than in any conspicuous originality. His importance in German poetry is restricted to his early period. In later years it was as the helpful friend and adviser of others, or as the well-read critic of wide sympathies, that Tieck distinguished himself.

Tieck remained influential as dramatic adviser to the theatre at Dresden, and as an editor of Hans Sachs, Martin Opitz, Andreas Gryphius, and Daniel Casper von Lohenstein and of Heinrich von Kleist and Jakob Michael Reinhold Lenz.

Tieck also influenced Richard Wagner's Tannhäuser. It was from Phantasus that Wagner based the idea of Tannhäuser going to see the pope and Elisabeth dying in the song battle.

Reviews

[zainab · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the late Enlightenment, a theater takes place Puss in Boots. This title is not very well received by the audience, because people have turned away from myths and everything supernatural.
The play itself, involves a cat who, through his boots, looks to others like a human being and thus the fact that he is a cat, never really comes to the fore. This cat helps his master to become a king so that he can marry a princess.
Often the audience is brought into the play, what may be meant to be funny becomes rather drawn out and distracting and somewhat confusing.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

PUSS IN BOOTS – A KIND OF REVIEW

Dramatis Personæ (in order of appearance)

Otis C███████, a manager
Jeff B████, a retailer
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, brothers and storytellers
Ludwig Emil Grimm, another brother, less known
Johann Ludwig Tieck, the playwright
Charles Perrault, a dead writer
Matt, writer of this
Hinze, the titular tom-cat


ACT ONE (of one)

SCENE ONE

(enter Otis C and Jeff B; arm in arm)

OTIS C and JEFF B.
(singing)...money for nothing, and your chicks for free. (they sit down on stage right, in the shadows; watchful)

(enter Jacob, Wilhelm, and Johann Grimm)

JACOB.
So what's that supposed to be here?

WILHELM.
Another of this quaint reviews by this weird guy. Can you see anything Ludwig?

LUDWIG.
Yes, up there (he points to the top of the screen). But I cannot reach it. We need more Likes, or you must help me. (Wilhelm and Jacob interlock their hands to give Johann a boost. Johann picks up the book from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...) It's "Puss in Boots"; subtitle (squinting) "A Fairy Tale For Children".

WILHELM.
Wonderful. One of our own stories.

LUDWIG.
I'm afraid not. It's by (still squinting) Johann Ludwig Tieck.

(enter Johann Ludwig Tieck)

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
Hello friends! I'm Johann Ludwig Tieck.

JACOB.
Welcome to the party. We knew you were coming.

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
Why is that?

JACOB.
Because this is a review, and you seem to be the author of the book being reviewed.

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
I see.

WILHELM.
Plus your name is up there in the list of persons.

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
(looks up at the list of persons) Right. How nice. Johann – Ludwig – Tieck – the playwright. That's me!

JACOB.
(sighs)

WILHELM.
So. Are we going to discuss this book by ourselves or will there be a reviewer any time soon?

(enter Matt, who was sitting in the front row the whole time, writing in some notebook, without being recognized by the characters or the readers)

MATT.
I'm right here. Thank you all for coming.

WILHELM.
As if we had a choice.

OTIS C.
(whispering to Jeff B) Am I wrong or is this another one of those forbidden off-topic reviews?

JEFF B.
Huh?

OTIS C.
I mean we haven't heard anything so far about the book, apart from its title, and the author.

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
That's me!

OTIS C.
Shut up, Tieck, you're dead.

JEFF B.
As long as the people are going to buy the damned book – Who cares?

OTIS C.
But that's the point. This review is only for the other reviewers and not to promote the book. People won't buy it. There's just no money in this kind of thing.

JEFF B.
What? WHAT? (shouts) BOO!

MATT.
That's right. The book is free to read on Zeno. The German version, that is. It's right here on http://www.zeno.org/Literatur/M/Tieck...

OTIS C and JEFF B.
BOO! BOO!

MATT.
Thank you, Otis and Jeff, for this insightful contribution. Now would you please leave my review. I have some important topics to discuss with these gentlemen here. (scribbles on his notebook while Otis C. and Jeff B. slowly fade) Otis C and Jeff B, Ladies and Gentlemen! (two single claps from one of the Grimm brothers, Tieck coughs slightly)

WILHELM.
Indeed.

MATT.
So please tell us Mr Tieck. How did you come up with the idea to write the play?

LUDWIG.
Sorry to interrupt. I think my role here is finished? I was only supposed to fetch the book and let readers know that there is a third Grimm brother. Am I right? Can I go now?

MATT.
Yes, you can go. Oh, and what's that book by you again?

LUDWIG.
Lebenserinnerungen des Malerbruders , my memoirs and paintings.

MATT.
Great. I just ordered it (whispers) But not from Jeff's store. Thank you so much, Ludwig.

LUDWIG.
Thank you!

(exit Ludwig Emil Grimm)

MATT.
Back to you Mr Tieck. So you wrote the Puss in Boots play. Is this the first version of the fairy-tale?

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
Oh no. The first version is much older. It's from a French guy named Charles Perrault. He wrote it down some hundred years before me. 17th century if I remember correctly.

(enter Charles Perrault)

CHARLES PERRAULT.
Oui. Je suis l'auteur. Je l'ai écrit le livre Le Maître Chat ou le Chat botté. Mon livre a été le premier.

MATT.
Merci Charly. But I think I was a bit too hasty to include you in my review. I realize my French is too rusted. Maybe some other time.

CHARLES PERRAULT.
Oh bien. Au revoir.

(exit Charles Perrault; clapping from the Grimms and Tieck)

MATT.
In your play you not only tell the fairy-tale story, but you also have people from the audience commenting on what they see on the stage. And later they even interact with the players? So it's some kind of play-in-play-over-fairy-tale?

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
That's right. I figured the fairy-tale alone would be too dull. So I thought of something around it.

JACOB.
Too dull?

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
Yeah. Sorry guys. I know you like to tell your stories straight. And that's great. I mean children love your tales. There's no doubt about it—

JACOB.
Thank you.

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
— but for me it's different. I like to add some special twist to my stories. They're not for children actually. Small children at least won't grasp it.

MATT.
That was my impression too. You know what's weird? This play reminded my of a song by Bob Dylan.

JACOB.
Who?

WHILHELM.
Who?

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
What?

MATT.
Oh yeah. You guys cannot know him. Long after your time. Anyway, Bob Dylan is a singer and songwriter, and he wrote this song called Lily, Rosemarie, and the Jack of Hearts . For a long time I wonder what this song is all about. Now I think it's also some kind of meta-play in the form of a song. It's rather long for a pop-song. Here; let me show you (presses a button and music starts to play; then singing)

(♫ The festival was over, the boys were all plannin’ for a fall...)

WILHELM.
That's horrible!

(♫ The cabaret was quiet except for the drillin’ in the wall...)

JACOB.
Disgusting! That guy is called a singer?

(♫ The curfew had been lifted and the gamblin’ wheel shut down...)

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
Interesting.

(♫ Anyone with any sense had already left town...)

WILHELM.
Turn it off!

(♫ He was standin’ in the doorway lookin’ like the Jack of Hearts)

MATT.
(presses another button and the music stops) I guess you're not ready for this. (quietly and to the readers) But maybe you are. Click and listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTwUM... (back to the others) Bob Dylan is a master with words. Some call him the joker, some the jester.

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
Hey, there's a jester in my play!

MATT.
I know. That's the reason I brought this song up in the first place. Your jester in the play is a great character.

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
Why, thank you.

MATT.
I understand his name is Hanswurst, even in the English translation. Funny. The King's court scholar is also great. What's his name again?

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
Leander?

MATT.
That's the one. This exchange in the third act, third scene between Hanswurst and Leander? "Prove that the play is bad" – "No, you prove that it's good" Priceless!

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
Yes.

MATT.
But also a little silly, don't you think?

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
Of course it's silly. That's the whole point. Life is silly—

WILHELM.
I tend to agree. Especially since I'm playing a part in this quote review unquote.

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
—and unimportant when you look at it from afar. Do you remember when Leander had to explain the concept of infinity to the King?

MATT.
Vividly. One of the best scenes.

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
This was actually hard for me to write. The cleverness of the scholar paired with the dumbness of the King. This kind of silliness requireѕ careful planning.

MATT.
I see. Well now, gentleman. I have to wrap this up (wraps up). Thank you for your time. Maybe I'll bring you back in some other review.

WILHELM.
You don't have to.

JACOB.
Maybe.

JOHANN LUDWIG TIECK.
Yeah!

(exit Wilhelm, Jacob, and Tieck)

MATT.
And thank you readers for reading this absurd nonsense so far. Good night.

(exit MATT; the lights shut off except for a tiny headlight that lights the center of the stage)

EPILOG

(From offstage the scrape of claws on hardwood floors can be heard. Then a tom-cat appears. He walks to the center of the stage and squints into the light. Strangely he walks on all four legs and doesn't wear boots. He opens his mouth as if he is going to say something)

HINZE.
Meow.

(no, false alarm; exit Hinze)

THE END

UPCOMING EVENTS IN THIS THEATER:
[book:Jest, Satire, Irony & Deeper Significance; featuring THE DEVIL
- CANCELED -



This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

[Nadja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Habe wiedermal eines meiner Lieblingsdramen hervorgenommen.

Gefällt mir immer noch sehr, dieses Theater im Theater, genial und so schön ironisch!

(1. Mal gelesen im Gymnasium, Mai 2006)

[Andreas · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the earliest plays I know which shatters the 4th wall into a million billion trillion pieces. Appreciating its finer points might not be possible without a grasp of 18th century theatre, but it still works even at a less in-depth level. Honestly, I am blown away by the fact that a play like this existed back then. Highly recommended, even if its just from a purely historical standpoint and for the madness of it all.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicht umsonst ist Tieck einer der bedeutendsten Romantiker der deutschen Literatur.
Ein Stück in einem Stück, das über ein Stück reflektiert. Witzig, charmant und satirisch.

[lotti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take. But also what the fuck?

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nach "Kabale und Liebe" eine mehr als willkomme Abwechslung und positive Überraschung. Die Selbstreferenzialität, die Verdopplungseffekte und das Spiel mit diversen Illusionsdimensionen sind einfach der Shit. Das Werk ist pure Comedy für jedes Germanistenherz.

Und ja, ich hab mehrmals laut gelacht.

[zora · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was so silly

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hach, das hat so viel Spaß gemacht!

[Lisa Elodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tieck hat sein kleines Büchlein sprachlich super umgesetzt. An manchen Stellen war es etwas kompliziert, der Handlung zu folgen, da das Schauspiel im Schauspiel sich gelegentlich überschneidet.
Nichtsdestotrotz war es unfassbar schön geschrieben.

[Nakarem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could be a 4* on a different day.
Everyone (including me) who has some elitist ideas about art, even if it's just a shred of prejudice and elitism, should read this. Also it's just stupid/funny satire and commentary on how people consume media.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

musste bei einem klassiker noch nie so lachen wie hier, war ehrlich so witzig

[Chiara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75:)

[Mai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Der König ist so eine menace to society, ich liebs

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

Der König, schreiend: „LEUTE“ — never read a more relatable scene

[Milica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ovo mi je možda i najdraže djelo iz njemačkog perioda romantizma.

Zamislite da sjedite u pozorištu i gledate "Mačka u čizmama" među ostalom publikom, a neko sa strane piše djelo o tome. To je ono što je Tik uradio, stavio je publiku koja posmatra predstavu unutar svog djela, odnosno napravio je dramu unutar drame. Naravno, nije stvarno posmatrao ljude u pozorištu kako bi je napisao, već je publiku izmislio da bi uspio na suptilan način da iskritikuje društvo. Primijetna su tri fiktivna nivoa unutar ove drame, koja se u određenim trenucima povezuju i preklapaju. Ono što je zajedničko ovom djelu i svima poznatoj bajci je sama radnja oko mačka koji pokušava da obogati najmlađeg sina.

Djelo je preplavljeno romantičarskim odlikama i jedan je od najboljih prikaza romantičarske ironije. Kao što vam je vjerovatno već poznato, romantičari su težili nečemu drugačijem i nečemu nedostižnom, zato su vrlo često u svojim djelima povezivali realno sa nerealnim, a romantičarska ironija upravo označava njihovo vjerovanje da je naše "ja" stvorilo svijet i da zato može da se poigrava s njim. Kako bih vam bolje dočarala šta je to romantičarska ironija, daću vam konkretno primjere za nju unutar ovog djela. U jednom trenutku dolazi princ iz daleke zemlje koji od kralja traži ruku njegove ćerke, ali kralj se pita kako taj princ uopšte govori njihovim jezikom ako živi toliko daleko. U nekom drugom trenutku se svađaju dvorski učitelj Leander i Hanswurst (luda), Leander tvrdi kako je drama odlična, a Hanswurst mu protivriječi. Oni spominju publiku, a nakon toga slijede začuđene reakcije te iste publike. Nije im jasno kakvu publiku su spomenuli, jer u djelu nema publike (iako su upravo oni ta publika). To su klasični primjeri ovakve ironije.

Djelo je izašlo 1797. godine i Tik je htio da iskritikuje društvo koje je naviklo da gleda predstave u kojima se samo pleše i pjeva, da iskritikuje one koji negativno reaguju na pojavu čiste ljudske emocije u djelu i one koji ne žele i ne mogu da razmišljaju tokom čitanja ili gledanja nečega. Tako je poslao poruku da umjetnost nije samo zabava, već nešto mnogo više. Naravno, to je uradio na vrlo zanimljiv i romantičarski način. Znam da je nekim ljudima bilo jako bezveze da čitaju ovakve scene, ali ja sam se baš dobro zabavila.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

sneaked this in among my other reads today :D
with how much i love all things meta, youd expect i would like this, but i mean wow, i cant believe this was written in the 18th century. It reminds me so much of tons of modernist plays ive read. it's witty, sharp, confusing, reflective
i especially liked the character of the playwright/poet, and the question how much he altered the play according to the audience's reactions, (bc hes super affected by their rejection), what was planned from the beginning, or was it the actors who actually changed their own parts? Fab. also the constant demonstration of the narrow-mindedness of the audience, and the way the boundaries between reality & fiction dissolve more and more until the end
parts that i found incredibly hilarious without being able to say why: the scene where they discuss the play itself in the play (this was actually also perhaps the most interesting scene in general? bc at one point theyre like, 'the best part of the play is the audience' and the 'real' audience is like ???, so wild), and after the discussion one guy is like 'I don't even know about this play, I haven't even seen it'. and also this guy in the audience who's always spilling his pretentiousness and eventually they just KICK HIM OUT.
it's amazing and im definitely gonna reread it sometime :D

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicht die Geschichte als vielmehr die Erzählweise hat mich tief beeindruckt.

[Dominik · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you thought, authors have not been writing stories that play with the 4th wall before the 20th century, you're mistaken. This is one funny, yet German example.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short book, more like a short-story, the setting is the stage itself in a theatre.

This is just a different version of „pussy in boots“, and the first time I did read this (in a slightly changed setting but same storyline) in brother Grimms Fairy Tales.

This version has a twist, with the meta-level of the theater-audience, and even the actors speak to the audience outside of their acting, the comments are quite funny, especially due to the fact that this was written almost 200 years ago.

Not bad, but also not very good. If you are a fan of old fairy-tales, read it! Not otherwise.

[Krobm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A convoluted play that I read as part of my studies. It is very amusing and also includes the well-known fairy tale of Puss in Boots, but there are plots and actors on top of that, as well as many scene changes. It can be a bit confusing when you read the play for the first time - but if you like Thieck's writing style then this play is definitely for you.

[David Rolinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein sehr kurzweiliges Stück, das witzig und interessant die Theaterlandschaft des späten 18. und frühen 19. Jahrhunderts charikiert. Es macht Spaß zu lesen und das Spiel im Spiel ist vorzüglich. Eine spannende Handlung darf man hier allerdings nicht erwarten. Es geht viel mehr um Komik und vor allem Satire.

[Izzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein Schauspiel im Schauspiel. Interessantes Konzept, dachte ich, doch die Umsetzung war dann eher bedürftig. Das Stück an sich war gut, doch die Zwischenszenen mit dem Publikum und dem Dichter waren verwirrend und unterbrachen den Hanlungsfluss.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny!

[Alina · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny

[ninasbooksandthoughts · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 🌟

[Lucie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich hab dieses Chaos so geliebt

[eeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

catcatcatcat 🐈🐈🐈🐈
puss in boots is the best fairy tale without question, and this play made it even better 😼☝️

[hund mit brille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ganz Unterhaltsames kleines Theaterstück mit einem amüsantem Publikum

[miloena · Rating 2 out of 5]

ein buch was man nur für die uni lesen muss isses automatisch einfach nicht