Fight Against Illness (1823-1824)

Abstract ‘Pain sharpens the understanding and strengthens the mind.’ 1821 and 1822 were years of crisis in Schubert’s personal life; in the years 1823 and 1824 he had to come to terms with the deterioration of his health, both physical and mental, and specifically the destabilization of his position in society which resulted from syphilis. It was almost inevitable that, as a creative artist of great sensuality living in an artistic and intellectual climate in which the importance and the spiritual freedom of the individual were especially valued, he would find it necessary eventually to break free from the restrictive disciplines and morality in which he had been nurtured. Only then was he in a position to develop his independence and personal identity, to fulfil his artistic promise, to create his own musical language, style, and sounds and, through them, to express in music his genius. Before turning to a detailed look as Schubert’s life during 1823 and 1824, it is worth pausing to establish an overall picture of his health, his professional career, and his relationships with friends.