Emilia Galotti

Lessing’s Emilia Galotti is the finest example of this rule of tragic necessity. All the characters act as they must under the given circumstances. We see why a man like Odoardo could not kill the prince at the moment when he raised his arm to do so. In the final scene between Odoardo and Emilia, we so well understand their characters and the state of mind of each at that time, that the catastrophe seems to be inevitable. A careful analysis of the events leading up to the catastrophe, shows throughout the same dramatic necessity.