Q: Analyze the character of Effi Briest in Fontane's novel and critically comment on her fate within the context of Fontane's concerns regarding the cultural legitimacy of the Junker class to rule German society in the last years of the 19th century, but also to what extent Effi is responsible for his own misfortunes. Effi Briest, a realistic novel written by Théodore Fontane and published in 1896. This novel tells the point of view of a female character about a socially arranged marriage. to a man 21 years her senior, leading to a tale of adultery and ultimately tragedy. This essay aims to analyze the character of Effi Briest, with a critical commentary on her tragic fate within the framework of Fontane's concerns about the cultural legitimacy of the Junker class to rule German society in the last years of the 19th century. The essay will go on to comment on how Effi is responsible for her own misfortunes in the novel. Effi Briest, when we meet her in the novel, is a 17-year-old girl, who can be considered a carefree person. , and happy child. Her adolescence is revealed early in the novel, when she does embroidery with her mother (Luise), and appears agitated when participating. This picture is further painted by the author when the reader sees Effi playing a game of tag with her middle-class friends Hulda, Hertha and Bertha, in chapter 2, when she knows she has to meet someone something important later, but she wants more time to do it. play with his friends. “…Effi took the nearest gravel path, dodging left and right until she suddenly disappeared. “Effi, that doesn’t count. Where are you? We don't play hide and seek, we play tag. » (Chapter 2). This childishness that Effi embodies is significant, because she throws ...... middle of paper ...... lame, for arranging an inappropriate marriage, between two completely opposite people, solely for her social and financial gain, ignoring his personality completely. Innstetten bears some responsibility in this matter, as he was completely unsuitable for Effi and he did not try to connect with her emotionally or physically, leaving her totally isolated. Major Von Crampas is also blameworthy, as he took advantage of Effi and played a major role in her exclusion from society. Fontane wants to conclude that it is not just one of these characters that plays a role in Effi's downfall, but society itself that influences each character's thought processes and causes Effi's misfortunes, and ultimately his death. It is possible to believe that in Fontane's text, he leaves the interpretation to society, in the hope that it fixes his socially guided habits..