Der Freigeist

Freigeist, Der, a comedy in five acts written by G. E. Lessing in 1749, and first published in 1755 in Lessings Schriften (vol. 5). It is a comedy in the French manner (Lessing acknowledges his indebtedness to de l'Isle), with two pairs of lovers at cross purposes. The intrigue is finally solved by an exchange of partners, but the real merit in the play lies in the portrayal of the two contrasting men, the tolerant and balanced cleric, Theophan, and the irritable, biased, and intolerant free-thinker, Adrast. The comedy is an exemplification of Lessing's own spirit of tolerance, and also perhaps a tribute to his pastor father.