The Sorrows of Young Werther

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains references to sexual assault, suicidal ideation, and death by suicide.

Werther is the eponymous protagonist of the novel. Through the letters written from his point of view, Goethe explores themes of love, despair, and existential angst through a character torn between societal expectations and personal desires. As an upper-middle-class young man, Werther occupies a position of relative privilege. Still, his ambivalence toward his career reflects his disdain for societal expectations in favor of personal fulfillment. His connection with emotion over reason, his affinity for nature, and his appreciation of literature and art align him with the growing cultural ethos of the 18th century. Goethe depicts him as irritated by superficiality, ambition, and the pursuit of worldly success. He tends to idealize the rural working class while railing against the aristocracy. While the aristocratic characters mostly look down on him, he still possesses the wealth and means to live without real concerns. However, he throws away his ability to have a comfortable life in favor of his artistic pursuits.

As a figure of the man of sensibility, Werther’s strong emotions often overshadow his intellect and education.