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The Sorrows of Young Werther

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'The Sorrows of Young Werther' by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a Romantic novel that tells the story of a young man named Werther who falls deeply in love with a woman named Charlotte, who is already engaged to another man. The book is written in diary form and consists of a series of letters written by Werther to his friend Wilhelm, detailing his unrequited love and emotional struggles. Werther's passionate and sensitive nature, along with his opposition to societal norms, leads him to a tragic end as he contemplates suicide due to his doomed desire for Charlotte.

Characters:

Characters are primarily reflective of Werther's inner turmoil, with others serving as supports to his emotional struggles rather than fully fleshed individuals.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is characterized by its emotional intensity and poetic expressions delivered through a series of personal letters.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers on a young man's struggles with unreciprocated love and mental distress, culminating in his tragic end.

Setting:

The setting alternates between idyllic countryside and Werther's internal despair, serving as a backdrop to his emotional state.

Pacing:

The pacing is uneven, marked by long emotional passages that slow the narrative, often reflecting Werther's state of mind.
I have carefully collected whatever I have been able to learn of the story of poor Werther, and here present it to you, knowing that you will thank me for it. To his spirit and character you cannot re...

Notes:

The Sorrows of Young Werther is written in an epistolary style, composed of letters from the protagonist Werther to his friend Wilhelm.
The novel reflects Goethe's own experiences with unrequited love, particularly for a woman named Charlotte Buff.
Werther experiences intense emotional highs and lows, which can be interpreted as symptoms of mental health issues like bipolar disorder.
Upon its release in 1774, the novel sparked a wave of suicides, leading to the phenomenon known as the 'Werther effect'.
Goethe's portrayal of Werther's obsessive love significantly influenced the Romantic literary movement.
The book has been deemed one of the first psychological novels as it delves deeply into the protagonist's emotions and mental state.
Werther's character is often viewed as self-absorbed, highlighting the theme of individualism prevalent in Romantic literature.
The novel ultimately portrays the destructive nature of unrequited love, leading to Werther's tragic decision to commit suicide.
Goethe later expressed regret over the novel, wishing it were forgotten, yet it remains a classic that evokes powerful emotions.
The story is set in rural Germany and features a strong appreciation for nature, which is a characteristic element of Romanticism.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains themes of mental illness, including depression and suicide, which may be distressing for some readers.

Has Romance?

The work contains a significant amount of romantic themes, primarily revolving around unrequited love.

From The Publisher:

The Sorrows of Young Werther is an autobiographical novel which is loosely based on the life of its author, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. This publication is a classic originally published in the late 18th century thaty made Goethe one of the first major literary celebrities and was a key novel from the German literature movement known as Sturm and Drang. Largely a collection of letters written by Werther and sent to a close friend, it is an intimate account of his time in the fictional village of Wahleim. This work should not be passed over by those interested in the writings of Goethe and German literature.

Ratings (19)

Incredible (4)
Loved It (8)
Liked It (2)
Did Not Like (3)
Hated It (2)

Reader Stats (39):

Read It (19)
Want To Read (15)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (4)

2 comment(s)

Did Not Like
1 week

2.5. I've heard somewhere before reading this that this book caused people to commit sucide after it was published and my interest was peaked. This story follow young Werther through is downfall in love to his sucide. However I didn't feel sorry for Werther, not at all. To me he's love for Lotte was obsessive and selfish, and I felt more sorry for her for having to go through that. I'm glad I read it tough I didn't enjoy it much

 
Did Not Like
3 months

Supongo que en medio de la ilustracion, hacer un libro de puro sentimiento tiene su merito.

A mi me ha dejado mas bien aburrido. Hay demasiada repeticion. Demasiada quejas sin mucho fondo. Al final estaba deseando que acabara, menos mal que el final al menos satisface.

Se salva un poco por estar bien escrito y relativamente romper moldes en su tiempo.

En definitiva, mas bien aburrido.

 

About the Author:

Before he was thirty, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe had proven himself a master of the novel, drama, and lyric poetry. But even more impressive than his versatility was his unwillingness ever to settle into a single style or approach; whenever…

 
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