Goetz von Berlichingen is a successful 1773 drama by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, based on the memoirs of the historical adventurer-poet Götz von Berlichingen (ca. 1480–1562). The plot has various changes to Götz's real biography. Goethe's Goetz dies young, while the historical Götz died an octogenarian.
Goetz is a free spirit, a maverick, intended to be a pillar of national integrity against a deceitful and over-refined society, and the way in which he tragically succumbs to the abstract concepts of law and justice shows the submission of the individual in that society.
Goetz von Berlichingen was one of Goethe's early successes but its large cast size, frequent quick scene changes, and long running time caused the original version to eventually fall out of favour. The play was re-arranged and cut several times, sometimes by Goethe himself, in order to suit various venues and theatre companies.
The first version of the drama included a quote that gained fame fast. In the third act, Goetz is under siege by the Imperial Army in his castle at Jagsthausen. The captain of the army asked him to surrender; from a window, he gives his answer:
Mich ergeben! Auf Gnad und Ungnad! Mit wem redet Ihr! Bin ich ein Räuber! Sag deinem Hauptmann: Vor Ihro Kaiserliche Majestät hab ich, wie immer, schuldigen Respekt. Er aber, sag's ihm, er kann mich im Arsche lecken!"
It can be translated as:
Me, surrender! At mercy! Whom do you speak with? Am I a robber! Tell your captain that for His Imperial Majesty, I have, as always, due respect. But he, tell him that, he can lick me in the arse!
Goethe based this passage on the autobiography of the historical Götz, who records himself as saying (in a different context) "er solte mich hinden lecken" ("He can lick me on the behind").[1]
The "he can lick me in the arse" quote became known euphemistically as the Götz quote. Only the editions of 1773 and 1774 had the full quote. After that, in both printed editions and performances of the play, it was long common practice to tuncate the quote to "er kann mich —".
Mozart in 1782 wrote two canons inspired by it, Leck mich im Arsch and Leck mir den Arsch fein recht schön sauber.
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