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This paper examines how literature portrays children’s cruelty towards insects and explores the various intentions behind these portrayals. In works such as Max und Moritz (1865) by Wilhelm Busch, Maikäfermalen (1924) by Joachim Ringelnatz, and Romeo und Julia auf dem Dorfe (1875) by Gottfried Keller, it is evident that children often find it difficult to distinguish between harmful mistreatment and playful behavior. These texts reveal that such cruelty frequently arises unconsciously within a playful context, blurring the line between enjoyment and suffering. They also reflect the moral complexity of childhood actions and the challenges children face when interacting with beings they do not view as sentient or equal. As a result, the works highlight the difficulty of differentiating between playful intent and genuine cruelty, while also addressing the ethical implications of children’s behavior.

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“Without First Obtaining the Views of the Imprisoned Fly on It”: Tormented Insects in German Literature of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年

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  • Alexandra Tretakov,
  • Paula Radnitz

摘要

This paper examines how literature portrays children’s cruelty towards insects and explores the various intentions behind these portrayals. In works such as Max und Moritz (1865) by Wilhelm Busch, Maikäfermalen (1924) by Joachim Ringelnatz, and Romeo und Julia auf dem Dorfe (1875) by Gottfried Keller, it is evident that children often find it difficult to distinguish between harmful mistreatment and playful behavior. These texts reveal that such cruelty frequently arises unconsciously within a playful context, blurring the line between enjoyment and suffering. They also reflect the moral complexity of childhood actions and the challenges children face when interacting with beings they do not view as sentient or equal. As a result, the works highlight the difficulty of differentiating between playful intent and genuine cruelty, while also addressing the ethical implications of children’s behavior.