[Heinrich von Kleist and the true nature of man]

In short-stories, novels and plays, the artist's interpretation of human nature may render the reader valuable insights into the basics of human behaviour. This article is a discussion of a short-story about a fictitious earthquake in Chile, written in 1807 by Heinrich von Kleist (1777-1811). The writer shows how feelings of warmth, friendliness and solidarity come out when a catastrophe reduces the relative importance of man-made rules and regulations. But more sombre sides of human nature also come to the surface in the wake of the disaster, and the writer indicates that even the apparently virtuous Christian morality contains severe traits of cruelty and repressiveness.