Clara Wieck Schumann and the Struggle for Equality in Nineteenth-Centur

Clara Wieck Schumann and the Struggle for Equality in Nineteenth-Century Germany The place of women before and during the nineteenth century is well summarized by a Bavarian statute book, which states that â€Å"by marriage, the wife comes under the authority of the husband and the law allows him to chastise her moderately† (Gay 177). These ideas are similarly echoed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen and the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The former did not afford women any of the rights provided for men, such as liberty, property, resistance to oppression, voting, free speech, etc.; the latter reasoned that because women were the weaker sex, they should not (and moreover could not) be a part of society outside of the family. Although dominated by her father in the early years of her life, the pianist and composer Clara Wieck Schumann broke through the societal barriers inhibiting women’s success and independence, forming a reputable and commendable career during a time when women’s lives were predetermined by a male-dominated consciousness and society. An investigation into the mindset of citizens in the nineteenth century and the obstacles every woman faced — especially concentrating on Germany — followed by a description of the life and musical career of Clara Schumann will create greater recognition of the upward battle she (and all women) faced at that time, as well as the notability of her career as wife, mother, and musician. Before delving into the life of Clara Schumann, a description of the world surrounding her must be made in order to understand the magnitude of her accomplishments. Among the positive factors of this time were changes in society from the late eighteenth century, su... ...tita. Concerto: The Glowing Story of Clara Schumann. New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1961. Moraze, Charles. The Triumph of the Middle Classes. Cleve land: The World Publishing Company, 1966. Nauhaus, Gerd, ed. The Marriage Diaries of Robert & Clara Schumann. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1993. Reich, Nancy B. Clara Schumann: The Artist and the Woman. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1985. Schumann, Clara Wieck. Secret Whispers: Three Romances for violin and Piano. Kym Amps, Soprano; Erica Deaaring, violin; Joanna Borrett, cello; David Carhart, piano. Meridian Records 1996. Susskind, Pamela. â€Å"Clara Shumann.† The New Grove Dictio nary of Music and Musicians. Vol. 16. London: Macmillan Publishing Limited, 1980. Thompson, Oscar, ed. â€Å"Clara Schumann.† The International Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1975.