Wilhelm Tell

The first instalment of the Sabah Ülkesi reading circle focused on Friedrich Schiller's drama Wilhelm Tell. Born in 1759 in Marbach and passing in 1805 in Weimar, Schiller was a central figure of German literature. Drawing on travelogues of his era, he questioned philosophical themes and enriched literary discourse, despite never visiting Switzerland, the setting of Wilhelm Tell.

The drama is set in 14th-century Switzerland. Wilhelm Tell, a skilled archer living in the mountains, resists oppression by the Habsburgs. When he is to be arrested, he escapes during a storm on a ship, killing the Habsburg governor. In the ensuing war between Habsburg and Switzerland, the Swiss people emerge victorious and declare Wilhelm Tell a hero, restoring Switzerland's independence.