Gabrielle Dubois's Reviews > The Sorrows of Young Werther
The Sorrows of Young Werther
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I read this book because it has to be read. The first pages bothered me by the condescending tone of the author towards people of “lower condition” than him. But I persevered and ... I did well! I understand that this book has passed the centuries.
It is the story of an unhappy love lived by a young man rich enough to have nothing else to do but to sigh after the woman of his dreams, the perfect woman, who would exist, thus! Don’t look for humour in this book, what you’ll find is:
The roots of the romantic movement in Europe, very pertinent reflections on human nature, and a writing - even if I read it in French, in a pretty edition dating from 1926, illustrated with charming and obsolete engravings! - a writing, therefore, simple and profound; a progression in the thought of the main character, Werther, subtle, reasoned and relentless.
Here are some of the thoughts that caught my attention:
About the destiny of Men:
“The human race is but a monotonous affair. Most of them labour the greater part of their time for mere subsistence; and the scanty portion of freedom which remains to them so troubles them that they use every exertion to get rid of it.”
About the bad mood (or temper? I’m not sure about the right word in English, sorry) that people around us have to endure:
“Is it not enough that we want the power to make one another happy, must we deprive each other of the pleasure which we can all make for ourselves? Show me the man who has the courage to hide his ill-humour, who bears the whole burden himself, without disturbing the peace of those around him. No: ill-humour arises from an inward consciousness of our own want of merit, from a discontent which ever accompanies that envy which foolish vanity engenders. (…) Woe unto those who use their power over a human heart to destroy the simple pleasures it would naturally enjoy! All the favours, all the attentions, in the world cannot compensate for the loss of that happiness which a cruel tyranny has destroyed. We should daily repeat to ourselves that we should not interfere with our friends, unless to leave them in possession of their own joys, and increase their happiness by sharing it with them!”
This request of Werther to the woman he loves is romanticism expressed in a charming delicacy, forgotten nowadays:
“Dear Charlotte! One thing, however, I must request: use no more writing-sand with the dear notes you send me. Today I raised your letter hastily to my lips, and it set my teeth on edge.”
Goethe was of great clairvoyance: here’s what he had understood, well before psychoanalysis, psychology and all the recent notions about the mind:
"It is in vain that a man of sound mind and cool temper understands the condition of such a wretched being, in vain he counsels him. He can no more communicate his own wisdom to him than a healthy man can instil his strength into the invalid, by whose bedside he is seated."
Here’s an example of Goethe’s beautiful writing:
“Ah, how often at that time has the flight of a bird, soaring above my head, inspired me with the desire of being transported to the shores of the immeasurable waters, there to quaff the pleasures of life from the foaming goblet of the Infinite, and to partake, if but for a moment even, with the confined powers of my soul, the beatitude of that Creator who accomplishes all things in himself, and through himself!”
And this one too:
“Content and peace of mind are valuable things: I could wish, my dear friend, that these precious jewels were less transitory. Content and peace of mind are valuable things: I could wish, my dear friend, that these precious jewels were less transitory.”
And the end is much more interesting than what I expected, even if, like everyone, I knew how it ends!
It is the story of an unhappy love lived by a young man rich enough to have nothing else to do but to sigh after the woman of his dreams, the perfect woman, who would exist, thus! Don’t look for humour in this book, what you’ll find is:
The roots of the romantic movement in Europe, very pertinent reflections on human nature, and a writing - even if I read it in French, in a pretty edition dating from 1926, illustrated with charming and obsolete engravings! - a writing, therefore, simple and profound; a progression in the thought of the main character, Werther, subtle, reasoned and relentless.
Here are some of the thoughts that caught my attention:
About the destiny of Men:
“The human race is but a monotonous affair. Most of them labour the greater part of their time for mere subsistence; and the scanty portion of freedom which remains to them so troubles them that they use every exertion to get rid of it.”
About the bad mood (or temper? I’m not sure about the right word in English, sorry) that people around us have to endure:
“Is it not enough that we want the power to make one another happy, must we deprive each other of the pleasure which we can all make for ourselves? Show me the man who has the courage to hide his ill-humour, who bears the whole burden himself, without disturbing the peace of those around him. No: ill-humour arises from an inward consciousness of our own want of merit, from a discontent which ever accompanies that envy which foolish vanity engenders. (…) Woe unto those who use their power over a human heart to destroy the simple pleasures it would naturally enjoy! All the favours, all the attentions, in the world cannot compensate for the loss of that happiness which a cruel tyranny has destroyed. We should daily repeat to ourselves that we should not interfere with our friends, unless to leave them in possession of their own joys, and increase their happiness by sharing it with them!”
This request of Werther to the woman he loves is romanticism expressed in a charming delicacy, forgotten nowadays:
“Dear Charlotte! One thing, however, I must request: use no more writing-sand with the dear notes you send me. Today I raised your letter hastily to my lips, and it set my teeth on edge.”
Goethe was of great clairvoyance: here’s what he had understood, well before psychoanalysis, psychology and all the recent notions about the mind:
"It is in vain that a man of sound mind and cool temper understands the condition of such a wretched being, in vain he counsels him. He can no more communicate his own wisdom to him than a healthy man can instil his strength into the invalid, by whose bedside he is seated."
Here’s an example of Goethe’s beautiful writing:
“Ah, how often at that time has the flight of a bird, soaring above my head, inspired me with the desire of being transported to the shores of the immeasurable waters, there to quaff the pleasures of life from the foaming goblet of the Infinite, and to partake, if but for a moment even, with the confined powers of my soul, the beatitude of that Creator who accomplishes all things in himself, and through himself!”
And this one too:
“Content and peace of mind are valuable things: I could wish, my dear friend, that these precious jewels were less transitory. Content and peace of mind are valuable things: I could wish, my dear friend, that these precious jewels were less transitory.”
And the end is much more interesting than what I expected, even if, like everyone, I knew how it ends!
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Reading Progress
August 5, 2018
–
Started Reading
August 5, 2018
– Shelved
August 12, 2018
– Shelved as:
17th-18th-century
August 12, 2018
–
Finished Reading
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Thank you, Jeanette. I went only in what was West Germany, three summers in a row, before 1989, the Berliner Wall was still there, so I couldn't have gone to East Germany. This said, I was learning German ... but sure, I couldn't read The Sorrows of Young Werther or any book in German!
C’est l’histoire d’un amour malheureux vécu par un jeune homme assez nanti pour n’avoir rien d’autre à faire qu’à soupirer après la femme de ses rêves, la femme parfaite, qui existerait, donc ! Cela manque totalement d’humour, mais…
Mais c’est aussi les racines du mouvement romantique en Europe, des réflexions très pertinentes sur la nature humaine, et une écriture — même si je l’ai lu en français, dans une jolie édition datant de 1926, illustrée de gravures charmantes et désuètes ! — une écriture, donc, simple et profonde ; une progression dans la pensée du personnage principal, Werther, subtile, raisonnée et implacable.
Voici quelques-unes des réflexions qui ont retenues mon attention :
Sur la destinée de l’Homme :
« C’est une chose bien uniforme que l’espèce humaine. La plupart passent la plus grande partie de leur temps à travailler pour vivre, et le petit peu de liberté qui leur reste les tourmente tellement qu’ils cherchent tous les moyens de s’en défaire. »
Sur la mauvaise humeur que l’on fait supporter aux personnes autour de soi :
« Parlons vrai ; la mauvaise humeur a sa source dans un secret dépit, un mécontentement de nous-mêmes que nourrissent l'envie et la vanité. Nous voyons des hommes heureux, sans partager leur bien-être, et cette image est insupportable. (…) Malheur à ceux qui abusent de leur empire sur un cœur pour lui voler les joies simples qui y germent d’elles-mêmes. Tous les présents, tous les trésors du monde ne remplacent pas un moment de cette félicité intime, empoisonnée par la jalousie fâcheuse de notre tyran. (…) » Chaque jour on devrait se dire : « Je ne peux rien de plus pour mes amis que leur laisser leur plaisir, et augmenter leur bonheur en le partageant avec eux. »
Cette demande de Werther à la femme qu’il aime, c’est le romantisme exprimé dans une délicatesse charmante oubliée de nos jours :
« Chère Lotte, je vous demande seulement une chose, ne mettez plus de poudre à sécher sur les petits billets que vous m’écrivez. Aujourd’hui, j’ai porté le vôtre tout de suite à mes lèvres, et j’en ai grincé des dents. »
Goethe était d’une grande clairvoyance : voici ce qu’il explique des maladies ou désordres mentaux, qu’il avait compris, bien avant la psychanalyse, la psychologie et toutes les notions récentes au sujet de l’esprit :
« C’est en vain que l’homme paisible et raisonnable considère la situation du malheureux, en vain qu’il lui donne de bons conseils ! Comme un homme en bonne santé qui est auprès du lit d’un malade, il ne peut faire passer en lui la moindre partie de ses forces. »
Je vous parlais de l’écriture de Goethe, en voici un exemple :
« J’ai soupiré souvent pour avoir les ailes de la grue qui passait en volant au-dessus de moi, et gagner les rives de l’océan sans limites, pour boire à la coupe écumante de l’infini les torrents de la joie de vivre, pour sentir, un moment seulement, dans la cage étroite de ma poitrine, une goutte de la félicité de l’Être qui engendre toutes choses en lui-même et par lui-même ! »
Et un autre :
« Le calme de l’âme est une chose splendide, ainsi que la joie qu’on trouve en soi-même. Si seulement le joyau n’était pas aussi fragile qu’il est beau et précieux. »
Et la fin est bien plus intéressante qu’on ne peut l’imaginer, même si on la connaît.