Questions About The Sorrows of Young Werther

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Answered Questions (5)

Are you still alive, after reading the book? (considering the 'Werther Effect')

Peyton Stafford I read this book over fifty years ago, when I was a freshman at Reed College. I read a translation into English and also the original in German. Despa…moreI read this book over fifty years ago, when I was a freshman at Reed College. I read a translation into English and also the original in German. Despair and feeling alive. I felt more alive after reading it, because it confirmed my feelings about life. Sometimes knowing that others suffer your own sensitivities and delusions can strengthen one. If this book affected you, maybe we should form a Young Werther group on GoodReads. Sort of a dark academia/cottagecore group of people looking for real meaning in the shards of their lives. Better to look for meaning in the shards than to cut our wrists with them. (less)

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Have you felt the pain of unrequited love? I have and it was terrible. By chance I found this book and realized unrequited love has been the abysmal fate of men and women since at least 1774. Werther's pain and mine were similar, Fortunately, I was able to find a less permanent solution to my sorrow and depression. Still Werther is like my bonded brother. When we meet, I shall tell him stories of love. Excellent

Annamaria I think that Werther is a bit like all of us. Enfact I reflected myself in him in some parts of the book. I think also is a good book to think about a…moreI think that Werther is a bit like all of us. Enfact I reflected myself in him in some parts of the book. I think also is a good book to think about a possessive love in some senses.(less)

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to which city does Werther move in the beginning of the book and why? does anyone know?

Fedar S. If by the city you mean the Wahlheim village, it is based on Garbenheim, near Wetzlar

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In the July 1st letter, Werther refers to the pastor’s boy as “dirty, nasty” and “the joy of his old age?” There seems to be no reason for him to say negative things about this child, the child is not brought up in any other context that I can tell. Werther seems to comment positively on the pastor in every other insight, and all children he comes into contact with. Why would he say the child is dirty and nasty?

Fedar S. I would not say 'dirty' is a negative adjective here. The child could be dirty after some games or other outdoor activities, which is quite natural fo…moreI would not say 'dirty' is a negative adjective here. The child could be dirty after some games or other outdoor activities, which is quite natural for his young age.
As for the nasty part, Goethe could use it to show that Charlotte is on good terms with all children she knows, even the nastier ones.(less)

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how did you find that?;)