Why did Therese Malfatti had declined Beethoven's marriage proposal?

Question

There was a theory that says that the famous "Für Elise" was mistranscribed by the discoverer of the piece Ludwig Nohl the title as "Für Elise" while it's originally named "Für Therese" after Therese Malfatti, whom Beethoven intended to marry in 1810 (the same year the piece was written) but she declined the proposal and married the Austrian nobleman and state official Wilhelm von Droßdik.

So the question is: Why did she declined him? Was it because of his deafness?

(NOTE: It's believed that the theorists created this theory after the uncertainness of his scholars and critics about who was Elise and why won't it be Therese the one who Ludwig loved in 1810.)

Anyway nobody can disagree about how sad was the piece and his relationship and how he managed to pour it into his music.

Peace

Answer 1

I disagree with Peaches, no offence intended. Any matter, he did have a fair amount of money and he agrued the prices of his music and got what he wanted. He was treated a lot better than Mozart was in Vienna. She supposely said that she didn't want to marry a man that was ugly and half crazy. Her father was his doctor, so his father didn't him. Beethoven wasn't poor. While he wasn't a noble, neither was she. He also proposed to her in a carriage ride without even a first date, just out of the blue. Believe me I lie not, I am a classical music and composer scholar and I know Beethoven in detail. Around 1810 he was also engaged in a afrair with Antionie brantono, most likely the immortal beloved, and he broke it off because she was married. That theory about Fur Elise being named after Therese is most likely a myth.

Answer 2

Therese Malfatti was the young daughter of a wealthy merchant, the niece of Beethoven's friend and physician. (In 1810, Beethoven was 40 and she was 18. Depending on the source, you can find her age at the time they met listed as 14 to 17.)

Beethoven was a commoner with no tangible assets, only an (often unpaid) annual stipend, single gifts from members of the aristocracy, income from subscription concerts, concerts, and lessons, and proceeds from sales of his works. Not the most secure of financial footings to begin a marriage and to support himself and a wife and family.

While girls are often susceptible to older men, it usually doesn't last very long. There were strong objections to the union from her family because of his birth, his finances, and his odd behavior. If her feelings had waned, it would be easy to allow her family to prevail. And even if she still considered herself in love with him, it would have been very difficult wed Beethoven without her family's permission, help and influence.