Natur und zivilisation in Stifters "Katzensilber"

Criticism to date fails to explain the relationship between nature and civilization in Adalbert Stifter's novella "Katzensilber" (1852). This study shows how Stifter portrays people of two varying domains through the depiction of their everyday activities, two crises, and a love story.

The author establishes the theme of the novella by means of the grandmother's stories to her grandchildren. The grandmother describes two stones: "Karfunkel" (carbuncle) and "Katzensilber" (mica), whose colors and textures are characteristic of nature and civilization, respectively. Despite the temporary success in combining people of these two worlds as shown by their adoption of externals such as clothing, eating habits and the exchange of gifts, permanent coexistence cannot be obtained.