Perfected Self Destruction: Van Geothe’s Tragic Masterpiece

Life and death, both inevitable concepts are simple to comprehend, and yet are so difficult to understand. Life must coincide with death, as death does to life. The idea of death forever lingers in the back of someone’s mind, fueling their devotions, drives, and dreams. But what of suicide, the intention of inflicting fatal self blows, the want to die? The Sorrows of Young Werther, by Johaan Wolfgang Van Geothe, is a collection of journals from Werther to his best friend Wilhelm that encapsulate the reader emotionally with each gripping entry. Through relatability, character development, and challenging perspective, Van Geothe ties the hearts and souls of readers to The Sorrows of …show more content…
Young Werther is a relatable character based on the way he voices the strong weakness he possesses mentally, the inability to express love. Ecstatic after breaking up with a old lover, Leonora, Werther moves to a rural area to escape from his old city life to pursue walks along the countryside and to perfect his arts of painting and sketching. Werther is an affluent, handsome young man whom is overcome by an undying love for a woman named Lotte, who also just happens to be engaged to someone else. His quixotic feelings for her puts him on a self destructive trial, especially after Werther greets and befriends the betrothed of Lotte, Albert. The impulses and sudden bouts of emotional overload that Werther heralds can easily relate to anyone under any kind of stress. “O Wilhelm! the hermit’s cell, his sackcloth, and girdle of thorns would be luxury and indulgence compared with what I suffer. Adieu! I see no end to this wretchedness except the grave” (Geothe 36). Werther eventually decides to pursue his academic career as a court official instead of serve as the flop of a meticulous love triangle. However it is merely relative to a distraction as he is drawn back hopelessly to Lotte. Just like anyone else who don’t confront their problems, Werther happens to run from it, but cannot …show more content…
Character development is cruicial in any story, and never has it been done so well with The Sorrows of Young Werther. Werther’s emotional state constantly darkens throughout the tale. His obsession for Lotte at a constant state in the forefront of his mind, drags his psyche to borderline suicide. He becomes doused in jealousy. He claims that he, spontaneous and emotional, would be a better fit for Lotte than Albert, meticulous and cerebral. Werther starts out as a pompous city roamer trying to get away from the fast life to a life of artistic simplicity, he eventually becomes a self-destructive fool who cannot abdicate his obsession for a woman whom is already engaged. “Farewell! I will end all this wretchedness. And oh, that my death may render you happy! Albert, Albert! make that angel happy, and the blessing of heaven be upon you” (Geothe