Nathan the Wise (Lessing)
Short summary
Jerusalem during the Crusades. Nathan, a wise Jewish merchant respected even by other faiths for his tolerance and compassion, returned from a journey to learn that his adopted daughter Recha had nearly died in a house fire. A Templar knight named Conrade had bravely saved her. Nathan longed to thank him and eventually tracked the reluctant Templar down. Though initially resistant, the Templar soon warmed to Nathan and fell in love with Recha, while wrestling with conflicting religious feelings about her Jewish upbringing.
The Sultan Saladin, a noble and generous ruler who valued wisdom above religious differences but often faced financial strain, summoned Nathan. Wishing to test his famously wise character, the Sultan asked Nathan which religion was true—Jewish, Christian or Muslim. Nathan answered diplomatically with a parable to show that no single faith could claim absolute truth, further earning Saladin’s respect. Later, the grateful Sultan offered the Templar, whose appearance reminded Saladin of his departed brother Assad, friendship and wealth.
Meanwhile, rumors reached the Patriarch that Recha was actually born a Christian, adopted by Nathan after her biological parents' death. Threatened by religious intolerance from the Christian authorities, Nathan revealed to the compassionate friar who had originally handed him the infant how deeply he grieved his own children, persecuted and lost. Recounting this tragic memory, he said:
I rose and call'd out—God, I will—I will, so thou but aid my purpose... I took the child, I bore it to my couch, I kist it, flung myself upon my knees and sobbed—my God, now have I one out of the seven again!
A final revelation emerged when the Templar, distressed at Recha’s situation, learned that his own true name was Guy of Filnek. It came to light that both Recha and he were actually the children of Saladin’s late brother Assad. Thus, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim characters found themselves bound together through family ties, realizing that shared love and understanding outweighed their religious divisions. In the end, Saladin warmly embraced his newfound niece and nephew, celebrating this remarkable reunion of faiths and kinship.
Detailed summary by acts and scenes
Act and scene titles are editorial.
Act 1. Nathan's Return and Recha's Rescue
Scene 1. Nathan learns of the Templar who saved Recha
The play opened with Nathan returning home to Jerusalem after a business journey. He was greeted by Daya, a Christian woman who served as a companion to his daughter Recha. Daya immediately informed Nathan that during his absence, their house had caught fire, and his daughter had nearly perished in the flames.
Alarmed, Nathan asked for details about his daughter's rescue. Daya explained that a young Templar knight, who had been captured but recently pardoned by Sultan Saladin, had heroically rushed into the burning building and saved Recha. After the rescue, the Templar had disappeared, refusing any thanks or reward. Despite Daya's efforts to find him and express their gratitude, he had been avoiding them.
Daya revealed that Recha had developed an almost mystical view of her rescuer, believing him to be an angel sent from heaven. Nathan gently suggested that while gratitude was appropriate, such supernatural interpretations were unnecessary. He expressed his desire to meet and thank the Templar personally.
Recha then entered, overjoyed to see her father safely returned. She spoke enthusiastically about her rescuer, describing him as an angel with white wings who had carried her through the flames. Nathan tried to temper her religious enthusiasm with reason, suggesting that her savior was simply a good man, a Templar, who deserved their gratitude regardless of his faith.
And what of sinful in the eye of heaven springs out of it—not I, not I could help; it falls upon thy head... So let it, Daya. Where is she then? What stays her?—Surely, surely, you're not amusing me—And does she know that I'm arrived?
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Al-Hafi, a dervish who had become Sultan Saladin's treasurer. Al-Hafi informed Nathan that the Sultan wished to see him. Meanwhile, Daya spotted the Templar walking beneath the palm trees near their house and urged Nathan to approach him.
In the final scene of Act 1, the Templar was approached by a friar sent by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. The friar attempted to recruit the Templar for a mission to spy on Saladin and possibly assassinate him. Disgusted by this proposal, the Templar firmly refused, showing his moral integrity despite his initial hostility toward Muslims and Jews.
Act 2. Saladin's Financial Troubles and Meeting with Nathan
Scene 1. Saladin and Sittah discuss plans
Act 2 began with Sultan Saladin playing chess with his sister Sittah. Their game was interrupted when Saladin lost his queen, symbolizing his current financial difficulties. Sittah revealed that she had been supporting her brother financially, using her own allowance to maintain his state expenses.
Al-Hafi entered and was dismayed to learn that Saladin knew about his financial situation. The treasurer complained about the Sultan's excessive generosity, which constantly depleted the treasury. When Sittah suggested borrowing money from Nathan the Jew, Al-Hafi initially praised Nathan's wisdom but then became evasive, claiming Nathan was not as generous as his reputation suggested.
After Al-Hafi departed, Sittah proposed a plan to summon Nathan and request a loan. She suggested that Saladin should test Nathan by asking him which religion was the true one, a question designed to trap him. Saladin agreed to meet with Nathan, though he expressed discomfort with the deceptive nature of the plan.
Scene 2. The Templar rejects Nathan's gratitude
Meanwhile, Nathan sought out the Templar to thank him for saving Recha. When they met, the Templar was initially cold and dismissive, refusing Nathan's expressions of gratitude. He claimed he had acted instinctively and wanted no thanks, especially from a Jew. The Templar's prejudice was evident as he questioned why a Jew would raise a Christian child.
Nathan responded with dignity and wisdom, refusing to be provoked by the Templar's hostility. He pointed out that the Templar's prejudice against Jews contradicted his own noble action of saving a Jewish girl from fire. This calm response began to soften the Templar's attitude.
What's a nation then? Were jews and christians such, e'er they were men? And have I found in thee one more, to whom it is enough to be a man? Nathan, by God, thou hast. Thy hand. I blush to have mistaken thee a single instant.
Scene 3. Nathan and the Templar begin to understand each other
As their conversation continued, the Templar's hostility gradually transformed into respect. Nathan's wisdom and tolerance made a profound impression on the young knight. The Templar admitted his prejudice had been misguided and extended his hand in friendship. Nathan invited him to visit Recha, who was eager to thank him personally for saving her life.
Before they parted, Nathan learned that the Templar's name was Conrade of Stauffen. This name seemed to trigger recognition in Nathan, though he did not reveal why. Their conversation was interrupted by Daya, who informed Nathan that the Sultan was waiting for him. The act ended with Nathan departing for his meeting with Saladin, while the Templar was left intrigued by Nathan's reaction to his name.
Act 3. The Parable of the Three Rings
Scene 1. Recha and Nathan discuss the Templar
Act 3 opened with Recha and Daya discussing the Templar. Recha expressed her confusion about her feelings toward her rescuer, while Daya hinted that there might be a future for them together. Nathan joined the conversation and gently cautioned Recha about idealizing the Templar too much, suggesting that she should see him as a human being rather than an angelic figure.
Scene 2. Nathan tells Saladin the parable of the three rings
The scene shifted to Saladin's palace, where Nathan arrived for his audience with the Sultan. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Saladin abruptly asked Nathan which religion he believed to be the true one: Judaism, Islam, or Christianity. Nathan recognized this as a dangerous question that could trap him regardless of his answer.
Instead of answering directly, Nathan responded with a parable about a man who owned a precious opal ring that had the power to make its wearer beloved by God and men. This man had three sons whom he loved equally and could not choose between them as his heir. To solve this dilemma, he had two identical copies of the ring made, giving each son a ring and his blessing before he died.
In days of yore, there dwelt in east a man, who from a valued hand receiv'd a ring of endless worth: the stone of it an opal, that shot an ever-changing tint: moreover, it had the hidden virtue him to render of God and man belov'd.
After their father's death, each son claimed to possess the true ring and thus the right to rule. They brought their dispute before a judge, who could not determine which ring was authentic. The judge advised them that if the true ring had the power to make its wearer beloved, then each son should strive to be worthy of love through good deeds and virtuous living. In time, a greater judge would determine which ring was genuine.
And if the virtues of the ring continue to show themselves among your children's children, after a thousand thousand years, appear before this judgment-seat—a greater one than I shall sit upon it, and decide.
Saladin immediately understood the parallel between the three rings and the three monotheistic religions. Deeply moved by Nathan's wisdom, he abandoned his plan to trick Nathan and instead offered him his friendship. Nathan then willingly offered to lend money to the Sultan, revealing that he had already guessed Saladin's financial need. Their meeting ended with mutual respect and the beginning of a genuine friendship.
Scene 3. The Templar confesses his love for Recha
Meanwhile, the Templar had been struggling with his growing feelings for Recha. Despite his initial reluctance to become involved with a Jewish family, he found himself drawn to her. When he finally visited Nathan's house and met Recha, he was immediately captivated by her intelligence and grace.
Later, the Templar confessed to Nathan that he had fallen in love with Recha and wished to marry her. Nathan received this declaration with unexpected hesitation, which confused and angered the Templar. Nathan explained that he needed time to consider the matter and suggested that the Templar should first speak with Saladin, who had expressed interest in meeting him.
Scene 4. Daya reveals Recha's Christian birth
Frustrated by Nathan's reluctance, the Templar encountered Daya, who revealed a shocking secret: Recha was not Nathan's biological daughter but a Christian child whom Nathan had adopted and raised as his own. Daya, motivated by her Christian faith, believed that Recha should know her true heritage and return to Christianity through marriage to the Templar.
The worst of superstitions is to think one's own most bearable... Must Nathan be the mortal, who unshrinking can face the noon-tide ray of truth, nor there betray the twilight dungeon which he crawl'd from.
Act 4. Family Secrets and Religious Conflict
Scene 1. The Templar meets with the Friar
Act 4 began with the Templar, disturbed by Daya's revelation, encountering the same friar who had earlier approached him on behalf of the Patriarch. The Templar, now viewing Nathan's adoption of Recha as a deception, considered reporting him to the Patriarch for raising a Christian child as a Jew—a serious offense under church law.
The friar, however, revealed that he himself had delivered the infant Recha to Nathan eighteen years ago, acting as a squire to a knight named Leonard of Filnek. This information gave the Templar pause, as he recognized similarities to his own family name. The friar expressed admiration for Nathan's kindness in taking in the orphaned child and raising her with love.
Scene 2. Saladin's financial problems resolved
The scene shifted to Saladin's palace, where the Sultan received news that a long-awaited caravan from Egypt had arrived with tribute money, resolving his financial crisis. Saladin instructed his emissary to send part of the treasure to his father in Lebanon and expressed interest in meeting the Templar, whom he had heard resembled his deceased brother Assad.
When the Templar arrived, Saladin was struck by his resemblance to Assad. Their conversation revealed the Templar's inner conflict about his feelings for Recha and his discovery of her Christian birth. Saladin counseled patience and tolerance, advising the Templar not to act hastily based on religious prejudice. He suggested that they wait for Nathan to explain the situation fully.
Scene 3. The Friar reveals Recha's history to Nathan
Meanwhile, the friar visited Nathan to warn him that the Patriarch had learned about his raising of a Christian child and was planning to take action against him. The friar then revealed more details about Recha's origins: she was the daughter of a knight named Leonard of Filnek, who had entrusted her to the friar's care shortly before his death at Ascalon.
Nathan was deeply moved by this information and shared his own tragic story with the friar. He explained that at the time he received Recha, he had just lost his wife and seven sons, who had been murdered by Christians during a massacre of Jews at Gath. Despite this devastating loss and the fact that Recha came from a Christian family, Nathan had chosen to raise her as his own daughter, overcoming his grief and resentment through love.
'Twas at Darun you met me with the child; but you will not have known that a few days before, the christians murdered every jew in Gath, woman and child; that among these, my wife with seven hopeful sons were found.
The friar was deeply touched by Nathan's story and promised to help him. He mentioned that he had a prayer book that had belonged to Leonard of Filnek, which contained information about the knight's family. Nathan asked to see this book, hoping it would provide answers about Recha's true identity and her possible connection to the Templar.
Act 5. Revelation and Reconciliation
Scene 1. Saladin's generosity and curiosity
The final act began with Saladin distributing his newly acquired wealth generously. He instructed his treasurer to pay Sittah a thousand dinars and expressed his willingness to help those in need. When the Templar arrived, Saladin greeted him warmly, again noting his striking resemblance to Assad. The Sultan tried to ease the Templar's concerns about Recha and Nathan, suggesting that they wait for Nathan to explain the situation.
Sittah, meanwhile, had invited Recha to the palace. When Recha arrived, she was distressed by Daya's recent revelation that she was not Nathan's biological daughter but a Christian by birth. Sittah comforted the confused young woman, who remained loyal to Nathan despite this shocking news. Saladin was immediately drawn to Recha's intelligence and gentle nature.
Scene 2. The revelation of family connections
When Nathan arrived at the palace, he brought with him the prayer book given to him by the friar. Through this book and their combined knowledge, a remarkable truth emerged: the Templar was not named Conrade of Stauffen as he had claimed, but Guy of Filnek, the son of Saladin's brother Assad, who had lived among Christians under the name Leonard of Filnek. Furthermore, Recha was revealed to be the Templar's sister, also a child of Assad.
Thus, the Templar and Recha were not only siblings but also the niece and nephew of Saladin and Sittah. The revelation transformed the tensions between the characters into joy as they recognized their familial bonds transcending religious differences. Nathan explained that he had suspected this connection when he first heard the Templar's family name, which was why he had hesitated to approve a romantic relationship between the Templar and Recha.
O, it has often vex'd me, cost me tears, that christians will forget so often that our saviour was a jew... If you meant to bring up the christian child right well, that you should rear it as your own; and to have done this lovingly and truly.
Saladin embraced both the Templar and Recha as his brother's children, while Nathan stood aside, content to see his adopted daughter reunited with her biological family. Rather than diminishing Nathan's role, Saladin and the others acknowledged the wisdom and love with which he had raised Recha, recognizing that true family bonds are formed by love rather than blood or religious affiliation.
The play concluded with this newly formed family embracing one another, symbolizing the potential for harmony among the three religions represented: Judaism (Nathan), Christianity (the Templar), and Islam (Saladin and Sittah). Through their reconciliation, Lessing illustrated his Enlightenment ideal that humanity and compassion transcend religious differences, and that wisdom and virtue are not the exclusive domain of any single faith.