Oh, nice! I wasn't aware of that. I mean to read through Pleschinski someday, but, um, *mutters something about slow German skills*.
But you know what my interpretation is, having seen both quotes now? Fritz totally changed his mind and didn't want to admit it. He seems pretty solidly on the side of "But Roman history is completely valid!" in the first letter and "Look, I can prove it! I'm not the gullible type!" in the second, and then in the third is all, "Oh, but I didn't actually mean it, you knew that all along, right?"
Which is totally what I did all the time when I was at his stage of emotional development, when I had to know everything and admitting I was wrong was to be avoided at, if not all costs, then most costs. :P (You guys are lucky you're getting 30-something year-old me in salon and not Younger Know-It-All Super-Defensive Self.)
I think the exchange with Voltaire prompted Fritz to take a step back and evaluate Roman history and local legends the same way he evaluated, say, Christianity, instead of taking their truth for granted.
But I could be wrong! (Says 30-something-year-old self.)
Remus and source criticism
But you know what my interpretation is, having seen both quotes now? Fritz totally changed his mind and didn't want to admit it. He seems pretty solidly on the side of "But Roman history is completely valid!" in the first letter and "Look, I can prove it! I'm not the gullible type!" in the second, and then in the third is all, "Oh, but I didn't actually mean it, you knew that all along, right?"
Which is totally what I did all the time when I was at his stage of emotional development, when I had to know everything and admitting I was wrong was to be avoided at, if not all costs, then most costs. :P (You guys are lucky you're getting 30-something year-old me in salon and not Younger Know-It-All Super-Defensive Self.)
I think the exchange with Voltaire prompted Fritz to take a step back and evaluate Roman history and local legends the same way he evaluated, say, Christianity, instead of taking their truth for granted.
But I could be wrong! (Says 30-something-year-old self.)