Weber, Kurt-Heinz Eine Sache der Ehre

Zur Kulturgeschichte und literarischen Darstellung des Duells

They shoot at one another or attack each other with lethal weapons such as rapiers or sabers. The men who do this are not criminals; on the contrary, they are upstanding members of society. They accept the fact that their actions are illegal. For them, another value ranks higher than the law: their honor. They are willing to risk their lives for it. Yet, being drawn into a deadly fight is actually a mark of distinction, for it demonstrates that a man belongs to the upper echelons of societyto the exclusive circle of those deemed worthy of dueling. However, this violence does not take the form of unbridled aggression; it is restrained and controlled. The combatants adhere to rulesspecifically, those of a chivalrous contest governed by the code of the duel. What appears to be a bizarre, archaic ritual was, in fact, a part of social reality well into the twentieth century. The first part of the book outlines the historical and social background of the duel, describes the various modes of combat, and addresses prohibitions and criticisms. The duel is also a major theme in European literature, which portrays aspects that a cultural-historical account cannot capture. Literature depicts the inner lives of those facing a fight to the deaththeir motives, thoughts, feelings, and fears, as well as their behavior in an extreme situation. The tension, sensationalism, tragedy, illicit nature, and fateful significance of these affairs of honor provided rich material for drama and narrative fiction. The second part of this book undertakes something never before attempted: a comprehensive account of the duel in literature.