Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther is about the tragic life of Werther who has committed suicide as a result of his loneliness and critical approach to society, also his displaced unfulfilled feelings for a woman called Lotte who he could never have. The story takes the form of a correspondence between Werther and his friend Wilhelm. Since the correspondence is only one sided, the readers find themselves taking the role of Wilhelm as the story progresses.
The story, to shortly summarize, begins with Werther who has bourgeois origin, who is leaving home to regulate some issues about family estate for his mother. He soon neglects his tasks and spends his time enjoying his life and in the afternoons feeling nature and the complexity of a human life. He quickly acquaints with the nice people who populate his "paradise". When he was invited to a dance by his new acquaintances, it’s where he gets to know Lotte and sets his eyes on her; he falls in love with her, although knowing that she is already engaged.
As the story continued, they both realized that their affection was mutual and they became close friends. Later on, Werther visited her almost every day and spent blissful hours close to her. But when Albert, Lotte's fiancé, returned from his journey Werther's feelings for Lotte has changed from "bliss" to the "unhappiness" because Albert's presence rendered it clear to him that his love would remain unfulfilled because Lotte will never be able to return his feelings because of the fact that she actually loved Albert. It was at this point that Werther began experiencing bouts of desperation and mood swings alternating between extreme optimism and extreme skepticism about life and society and how he fits into both. All these emotions were coupled with his unrequited love for Lotte.
Seen from Lotte’s viewpoint, Werther epitomizes a man of intelligence and artistic minded. These traits coupled by his sensitivity to beauty and nature were what endeared him to her to consider him as a close friend and confidant of her thoughts and views on life. However, these traits were also the real reason why Werther found no respect and contentment with the society. His disrespect to the Prince’s superficial knowledge of art demonstrated that he couldn’t tolerate anyone who did not share his artistic views. In the story, Werther did not find an equal or a superior to himself that even Lotte, who he fell in love with, did not have enough power to help him with his obsessions and desires. With the exception of Lotte and her family, Werther was effectively isolated from the society. Lotte must have sensed Werther’s need of a companion that she is in a way welcomed his friendship despite knowing that Werther’s affections towards her extended way beyond friendship. She said that she appreciates Werther as a kind of confidante for her emotions. Emotionally, they were too similar that Werther must have done a mistake as a positive sign of love urging him to pursue Lotte despite her circumstance. Werther at this time was happy thinking that love was the answer for his loneliness and passion. “ My days are as happy as those reserved by God for his elect; and whatever be my fate hereafter, I can never say that I have not tasted joy, -- the purest joy of life.” (June 21) Yet, when he found out about Lotte’s marriage to Albert, he decided he couldn’t accept living without her.
We should not blame Lotte for Werther’s grief and emotional suffering because she had been cautious in handling the evident feelings of Werther for her. She clearly loved Albert, who later became her husband and she made this clear to Werther despite his disappointment. Werther later on had already put Lotte in a high pedestal that it became difficult for him to detach his feelings for her even during her married life.
Before Albert appeared in the book, Werther's love was not still so clear, his surroundings seemed vitalizing. As he got more mindful of the feelings he has for Lotte, nature began to add to his desperation. Gloomy night strolls, which once seemed full of life and love in the book/ His pessimism began to settle and took the best of him. He then started to fantasize about marrying Lotte in the future.
Traditional values and stability is Albert’s wife for life. Werther precipitated himself with intense emotion. Werther is well aware of this, when he declares, “I cannot help esteeming Albert. The coolness of his temper contrasts strongly with the impetuosity of mine, which I cannot conceal. He has a great deal of feeling, and is fully sensible of the treasure he possesses in Lotte. He is free from ill-humour, which you know is the fault I detest most” (July 30). This obvious and marked difference between the two was what further antagonized Werther fully realizing that these characteristics of Albert were what engendered him to Lotte.
Albert, on his part is well aware of Werther’s special feelings for his wife but his reason and values prevented him from showing hatred to Werther. However, their secret rivalry intensified in a heated discussion concerning the topic of suicide wherein Werther rejected all of Albert's arguments and passionately defended the right to suicide, which he deemed to be an expansion of natural death. Judging from the intensity of the argument, which transcended beyond the topic of death to a deeper issue of Werther’s close friendship with Lotte, one could conclude that it was at this point that Albert decided to forbid Lotte to see Werther anymore. Lotte was stunned by this thought and having reservations had no choice but to obey her husband’s wishes and from then on informed Werther to distance himself from her. “We cannot go on in this manner any longer” (December 20) was her decision. This must have disoriented Werther to finally think about suicide and thereafter proceeded to commit it. It was in his unconditional love, his hardheaded want for no woman but her that Werther's destiny originated. Since there can be no fulfillment of his unconditional love for Lotte, the desire for death constantly grew within Werther whereby he expressed, “Adieu! I see no end to my misery but the grave" (August 30).
In conclusion, Werther's search for a place in society led him to examine himself relative to his own existence in the world. His desperate attempts to win Lotte’s heart have been the source of his sorrows and his ultimate doom. Anyone can say that the paths he has chosen toward maturity were irrational or impossible. In the story, he chose to fall in love with a woman already engaged. He chose to direct all his sorrows and anger on her. He undeniably lacked courage to face defeat and rejection. He chose to end his existence.
Werther’s story shouldn’t be taken as an account of a young man who has seen life as it really is but instead, it should taken as the choice between duty and inclination. I believe there is a young Werther characteristic in all of us and we must always seek to achieve a balance between reason and passion. This will make it possible for us to live productive lives as compared to Werther’s story.
C. Ozcan - is the author for Site Insaat Inc. Please visit <A HREF="http://www.siteinsaat.com">Istanbul Construction Guide at Site Insaat</a> for more information about Turkey architects contractors and construction companies in Istanbul, Turkey.
Disclaimer: The information presented and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of ArticlePros.com and/or its partners.
