Well, I wouldn't say "afoul" or "historical errors," just a different characterization for which we both have about equivalent evidence, by which I mean lack thereof. :)
And yes, we're pretty close in our takes overall.
is how much everyone else knew about all this and what everyone thought.
What I wondered was the somewhat similar question of: How directly involved was Fredersdorf in this whole fiasco? Was he required to issue or see to the carrying out of any orders related to the regiment clean-up, Heinrich's behavior, or the marriage? Because if so, that amplifies his chances of rationalization by a like a million. If not, then he has a better chance at a slightly more critical perspective on Fritz's role in this.
You're right that, living in Fritz's pocket as he did, he might have gotten the echo chamber effect. To the point where even if he heard criticism, he might have doubled down on defending Fritz to himself. As selenak pointed out, the FW-Fritz parallels could be just as easily used by the emotionally invested to portray Fritz as being *lenient* in comparison, as opposed to what you and I do, which is "Fritz? Don't you know from firsthand experience that being treated badly by the king and forced to marry as a sign of capitulation is terrible? WTF?"
A decent narrative you could come up with if you wanted to rationalize the whole forced marriage episode: FW "started it" by beating up on Fritz for playing the flute, etc. Fredersdorf thinks playing the flute is A+ and you should not get beaten up for it, and maybe trying to get away was at least somewhat justified. Whereas Heinrich "started it" by allowing recruits into his regiment against the rules. And yet Fritz reacted way less harshly than FW! As Fredersdorf of all people knows.
I'm not saying Fredersdorf necessarily did rationalize Fritz's actions, but it's a very real possibility, especially for someone who was there and watched Fritz go through what he went through and got invested in taking his side.
Regardless, if he did intervene, I think it was a very "I am not questioning you AT ALL" approach that Fritz could come away from thinking, "Well, he's terribly naive about Heinrich, of course, but at least Frederdsorf's on my side in all this." ("Because of course I am RIGHT! Why wouldn't he be on my side?")
Re: Brotherly Conduct I: The Prelude
And yes, we're pretty close in our takes overall.
is how much everyone else knew about all this and what everyone thought.
What I wondered was the somewhat similar question of: How directly involved was Fredersdorf in this whole fiasco? Was he required to issue or see to the carrying out of any orders related to the regiment clean-up, Heinrich's behavior, or the marriage? Because if so, that amplifies his chances of rationalization by a like a million. If not, then he has a better chance at a slightly more critical perspective on Fritz's role in this.
You're right that, living in Fritz's pocket as he did, he might have gotten the echo chamber effect. To the point where even if he heard criticism, he might have doubled down on defending Fritz to himself. As
A decent narrative you could come up with if you wanted to rationalize the whole forced marriage episode: FW "started it" by beating up on Fritz for playing the flute, etc. Fredersdorf thinks playing the flute is A+ and you should not get beaten up for it, and maybe trying to get away was at least somewhat justified. Whereas Heinrich "started it" by allowing recruits into his regiment against the rules. And yet Fritz reacted way less harshly than FW! As Fredersdorf of all people knows.
I'm not saying Fredersdorf necessarily did rationalize Fritz's actions, but it's a very real possibility, especially for someone who was there and watched Fritz go through what he went through and got invested in taking his side.
Regardless, if he did intervene, I think it was a very "I am not questioning you AT ALL" approach that Fritz could come away from thinking, "Well, he's terribly naive about Heinrich, of course, but at least Frederdsorf's on my side in all this." ("Because of course I am RIGHT! Why wouldn't he be on my side?")