The Measure of the Man Summary and Analysis

The author argues that in the last quarter of Luther's life he does not have any crucial achievements. Luther does have contempt for the bigamy of the landgrave, Philip of Hesse. Luther signs the memorandum recommending death even for peaceful Anabaptists. Luther proposes that Jews should live off the land, their synagogues burned, and their books taken away. Luther is still bitter toward the papists and continues to rail against the pope.

The author, reflecting upon Luther's life, states that to the end he is preaching, lecturing, counseling, and writing. Moreover he does lot to mold the character of the German people. The author gives strong credit to Luther for shaping the German language when he writes, "their language was so far fashioned by his hand that the extent of their indebtedness is...