The Sorrows of Young Werther: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Sorrows of Young Werther" is a novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe that explores the intense emotional landscape of unrequited love through its major characters. The protagonist, Werther, is a passionate and sensitive young man who finds himself deeply in love with Charlotte, affectionately known as Lotte. However, Lotte is already engaged to Albert, Werther's rival, who embodies calmness and respectability, offering a stark contrast to Werther's tumultuous emotions. Despite Werther's attempts to distance himself by taking a government post, his overwhelming feelings draw him back to Lotte, leading to an increasingly despairing situation.
Lotte is portrayed as the epitome of feminine virtue in the 18th century, characterized by her kindness and dedication to helping others, yet she lacks the fiery passion that Werther desperately craves. The dynamics between these characters highlight themes of passion versus duty, the struggles of unfulfilled love, and the impact of societal expectations. Ultimately, Werther's inability to cope with his unrequited feelings culminates in tragedy, as he takes his own life, leaving a profound impact on Lotte, who is devastated by his death. This exploration of the characters reveals the complexities of love and emotional suffering, making the novel a poignant reflection on the human condition.
The Sorrows of Young Werther: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
First published: Die Leiden des jungen Werthers, 1774 (English translation, 1780)
Genre: Novel
Locale: Germany
Plot: Bildungsroman
Time: Mid-eighteenth century
Werther, a well-educated young man who, corresponding with his friend Wilhelm, tells his story. He loves, but cannot marry, the woman of his choice because she is promised to another man. He talks with her, walks with her, and accompanies her to call on the parson but fails to win her. He tries to forget her by taking a government post away from Walheim. It is useless. He returns to her—now living with her husband—and, finally, forces his attentions on her. Crushed and humiliated by his erratic behavior, he shoots himself and dies. Werther's heart invariably rules his head, and he is the victim of unrequited love who uses Nature as a model for peace of mind.
Albert, Werther's rival in love, a respectable and well-mannered young man who sympathizes with Werther but can do little to help him. It is, ironically, Albert who supplies the pistol with which Werther commits suicide.
Charlotte (Lotte) S., Werther's beloved, a German eighteenth century study in femininity. She is faithful, she is kind, and she does good work among the sick and the poor. Her conduct is a model of deportment for wives. She is compassionate but not passionate. She is genteel: When confronted by a distraught, practically incoherent Werther who one night stumbles into her house while her husband is away, to profess his absolute love for her, she asks the wild hero to read to her from the poems of Ossian. Her reaction to the news of Werther's suicide is predictable: She falls into a swoon so profound she nearly dies.