Georg Büchner and the Vormärz
The term "Vormärz" describes the period between the Congress of Vienna in 1815 and the March Revolution of 1848/49 in Europe: Romanticism and Biedermeier. Not to be reconciled with the real life circumstances of society. A group of young literati called "Junges Deutschland" set the tone. They represent liberal democratic ideals and denounce the misery of the people, e.g. also with pamphlets like Büchner's "Der hessische Landbote.
Büchner is the first writer to turn away from idealistic classical drama in the epoch of the Vormärz. In his work "Woyzeck"he draws for the first time a main character who has neither education nor intelligence, or any other heroic qualities.
The antihero Woyzeck despairs of the miserable social conditions, commits murder as a result. Büchner describes clear contrasts with classical drama, adopts a materialistic-pessimistic perspective. In this social drama, Büchner breaks with tradition and is considered a pioneer of modernity.
Text source and further information about this event: http://www.katakombe.de/WOYZECK.263.0.html?&st=148
