Michael Kohlhaas

Michael Kohlhaas is a character from a novella by Heinrich von Kleist, based on a real 16th-century outlaw. He is a fair-minded, honest man who owns horses and seeks justice after a corrupt official seizes some of his horses illegally. When Kohlhaas's pleas for justice are ignored, he takes matters into his own hands, leading to violence and chaos. The story explores themes of justice, individual morality, and authority, illustrating how the pursuit of fairness can spiral into destructive rebellion when legal systems fail. It emphasizes the importance and complexity of justice in human society.