So you're saying Fritz can cry openly over his family, his generals, Keyserlingk, Rothenburg, Jordan, Duhan, and the like, and his dogs, but not Fredersdorf, because he's not supposed to care that much about a commoner?
Possibly. Not least because Fredersdorf falls out of several parameters - he's not a bravely fallen soldier (legendary commanders have been known to cry about those before), he's not a Faithful Old Retainer (of whom Fritz could say "he practically raised me" - I'm thinking also of MT having her governess buried in the Habsburg vault, the only non royal to be there, full stop, that kind of gesture), and, pace 1926 editor, he's not a sort of son ("I practically raised him"). I'm not sure there was an official vocabulary available in 1758 for what Fredersdorf had been to Fritz. (Unless you do what Voltaire did and put it sarcastically.) Certainly not to a new Calvinist Swiss reader. To a sister? Hm. "The friend of my heart is dead" or something like this sounds vaguely period appropriate, but then again, Fritz' 1757/1759 basically go "thanks for rooting for me, you're the best!", "Brother Wilhelm totally deserved it, whatever you say!", "Okay, did not see his death coming, but you know, evil advisors" to "want to commit suicide with me?" to "don't die, please don't die!"
It occurs to me, if Fritz doesn't actually mention Fredersdorf to Wilhelmine, maybe it's another Keith & Katte situation
Also possible, though less likely in that she's not likely to have encountered them at the same time with living in Bayreuth and only seeing Fritz very occasionally. We know she did meet Fredersdorf during her Berlin visits because he was in charge of arrangements and it's mentioned in the letters, but that was before seeing Fritz himself, so it's not like her Fritz time was limited due to Fredersdorf also being there (which which had been the case with Keith & Katte). Then again, feelings are irrational, so who knows. Ziebura in one of her books says Wilhelmine had no chill when it came to Fritz, anymore than he did re: the relationships important to him. (Hence also all the "clearly, he doesn't love me anymore!" near the end of the memoirs and the upset letters to brother AW asking him for help and mediation even before the big Fritz outburst apropos the MT meeting .)
Re: One admiring reader comments
Possibly. Not least because Fredersdorf falls out of several parameters - he's not a bravely fallen soldier (legendary commanders have been known to cry about those before), he's not a Faithful Old Retainer (of whom Fritz could say "he practically raised me" - I'm thinking also of MT having her governess buried in the Habsburg vault, the only non royal to be there, full stop, that kind of gesture), and, pace 1926 editor, he's not a sort of son ("I practically raised him"). I'm not sure there was an official vocabulary available in 1758 for what Fredersdorf had been to Fritz. (Unless you do what Voltaire did and put it sarcastically.) Certainly not to a new Calvinist Swiss reader. To a sister? Hm. "The friend of my heart is dead" or something like this sounds vaguely period appropriate, but then again, Fritz' 1757/1759 basically go "thanks for rooting for me, you're the best!", "Brother Wilhelm totally deserved it, whatever you say!", "Okay, did not see his death coming, but you know, evil advisors" to "want to commit suicide with me?" to "don't die, please don't die!"
It occurs to me, if Fritz doesn't actually mention Fredersdorf to Wilhelmine, maybe it's another Keith & Katte situation
Also possible, though less likely in that she's not likely to have encountered them at the same time with living in Bayreuth and only seeing Fritz very occasionally. We know she did meet Fredersdorf during her Berlin visits because he was in charge of arrangements and it's mentioned in the letters, but that was before seeing Fritz himself, so it's not like her Fritz time was limited due to Fredersdorf also being there (which which had been the case with Keith & Katte). Then again, feelings are irrational, so who knows. Ziebura in one of her books says Wilhelmine had no chill when it came to Fritz, anymore than he did re: the relationships important to him. (Hence also all the "clearly, he doesn't love me anymore!" near the end of the memoirs and the upset letters to brother AW asking him for help and mediation even before the big Fritz outburst apropos the MT meeting .)