A devastating blow came several years later-in August 1826, Karl attempted suicide. He was overbearing, harsh, and occasionally violent towards his nephew, and Karl would frequently escape to his mother’s house in response, much to Beethoven’s disapproval. Beethoven was ultimately granted full guardianship, but at great cost. What ensued was an ugly, four-and-a-half year battle over possession of the boy. However, a last minute change made Karl’s mother co-guardian, whom Beethoven immensely disliked.
When his brother (Caspar Carl) died in 1815, Beethoven was initially named the sole guardian of his nine-year-old nephew, Karl. One particular episode from later in life illustrates the darker side of this behavior. At that point Beethoven had to become the “parentified child” and take care of his two younger siblings, which he did with both love and harsh judgement, similar to his father. By nature, parents mirror behaviors for their children, so Beethoven learned these negative behaviors from a young age, which increasingly appeared as he grew older.īeethoven did have a loving relationship with his mother, whom he described as his best friend, but she died when he was only sixteen years old. The poor child could not trust his father, creating a state of fear and anxiety. This episode alone gives important clues as to how his personality was being shaped. Standing on a stool to reach the keys, he was beaten for every missed note, torture that went on throughout the night. One story tells of his drunken father returning from a bar late at night with friends and forcing little Ludwig to get up and perform on the pianoforte for their entertainment. The young Beethoven was forced to play at all hours of the day and night.
In Ludwig van Beethoven’s case, his very harsh beginning continued to impact his sense of self and personal relationships for his entire life.įrom a very early age, Beethoven’s father pushed him to follow in the footsteps of Mozart, to become the music world’s next child prodigy. While many are able to successfully counter the devastating effects of trauma through regular counseling and other professional resources, for others, it can remain a continual struggle. We see not only how a child responds to his or her early environment but also the history of trauma passed down from one generation to another-patterns of behavior that may include social factors as well as the family’s ability to cope with life’s difficulties. We often hear about early trauma and its impact psychologically.
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