Sorrows of Young Werther Analysis
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
- An analysis of The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. In this video, I examine the the themes of the novel, and some of the literary devices employed. In addition, I discuss the initial reception of the novel, and discuss its relevance for modern readers. I apologize for my garbled pronunciation of German names.
I don't really do a summary here -- that's been done well elsewhere. Here's an excellent summary of the novel:
• The Sorrows of Young W...
Much of my analysis is drawn from the introduction to the Oxford edition:
www.amazon.com...
In addition, I consulted Bruce Duncan's excellent study, Goethe's Werther and Its Critics:
www.amazon.com...
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This was very insightful! I read the book multiple times a few years ago, and remember it as an incredibly intense read. What was so intriguing, I remember, was how Werther presented himself as an unreliable reader already from the very first letter where he at once chastises and excuses himself. To call it a psychological novel would definitely do it justice - Goethe portrays through symbolism, and the rambly nature of Werther's letters, an almost too precise gradual decline of a person's mental health.
Thank you so much for watching! Werther is such a remarkable novel, one I'm glad that folks are still reading. Like all truly great literature, it has much to say about our current brokenness.
@@TheLastSitcom kqkedmuio
I watched this video twice! It is an absolutely, if perhaps, trenchantly brilliant analysis of the Sorrows of Young Werther.
Bravo!!!
Thank you so much!
No, Werther is not an incel! He isn't preoccupied with physical appearance, and doesn't view women as being obsessed with looks. These matters do not interest him in the slightest.
exactly! but.. werther mental health was slowly degrading as time passed by, he was obsessed by lotte and couldn't live without her, he wasn't an incel, but i'm afraid he influenced real incel groups about that
He a simp
@@rougenoir4287I seriously doubt “incel groups” are reading and discussing The Sorrows of young Werther 😂 that’s just insane
I guess if you want to characterize the entire Strum und Drang as an “incel movement” but that’s missing the point. In many ways it’s as much a product of the enlightenment as it is its antithesis. Really it’s a reaction to the Orthodox Lutheran church.
This kind of talk this “incel” stuff only serves to highlight the level of discourse involved around subjects like these.
Nice video! Really enjoyed how you touched out the symbolism and analyzed Werther's toxic mindset of love. There's also the red ribbons which are quite important symbolism I find.
I think this novel is Goethe's indulgence in the Romantic style and his ultimate passing of judgment about its final corollary.
No. Goethe is a representative of “Sturm und Drang” which is different from the Romatic epoch in German literature
@@MarysMonster sorrows the young werter is still romantic, as it is early goethe
Thank you for this fascinating analysis. I'm reading the novel at the moment and it's completely wonderful. I wonder though if "love" is the most accurate word for Werther's emotion? Or even the cause of his depression. Werther is so invested in his own extreme and solipsistic emotional experience, which he seems to see as defining and validating, and he so lacking in compassion or curiosity when it comes to Lotte.
I suspect your opening statements about Sorrows of Young Werther come from the channel Extra Credits and their series of videos covering the Mary Shelly novel Frankenstein where they also cover Goethe's novel.
I'd say you are wrong to equate Werther to an incel. If anything, an incel would sooner be an amalgamation of Werther's passion coupled with the character Albert's intellect. This amalgamation would be a character who (like Werther) is tormented by their unobtainable love for Lotte, only to attempt to rationalise by way of Albert's intellect which sets them down the path where it culminates into anger (misogyny and hatred toward society) and paranoid conspiratorial thinking (society brainwashing women, the manosphere).
Those are my thoughts anyway.
Seeing your Theotokos icon on the wall strongly encouraged me to watch this video. Prayers brother.
Prayers back at you! Thanks so much for watching. I recently made a documentary, from a Catholic perspective, on Eschatology. It's called "Funny How the World Ends," and it's available on my channel. Would love to hear your thoughts.
you hit the nail on it’s head. agreed with every point.
Thanks so much for watching!
I find this book fascinating, good job on analyzing it was extraordinary!
Thank you, Ilma! It's a remarkable book. I've got some other videos on the channel that you might find of interest as well. I really appreciate the kind words 🙂
Since Werther dies, does it make this a found footage story?
I think there are a lot of parallels to that genre, for sure. The sense that it's a diary, and that we never leave Werther's POV, gives it an authenticity that contributes to its power as a narrative.
@@TheLastSitcom Well, we leave Werther's point of view near the end, when the editor reconstructs the last days of Werther's life through eye witness accounts, but I think even that counts.
I forgot about that! Haven't revisited the book since I made the video, but that's a great observation. Thank you again for watching.
@@TheLastSitcom Thanks for making the video. I just read it and was curious what other people have to say about it.
I loved the book, and couldn't wait to talk about it. I've moved into documentaries. You might get a kick out of the new one, called "Funny How the World Ends." Subject matter is totally different, but it should be entertaining if you like going down rabbit holes.
He's just like me
Thankyou for this video you are easy to listen to I loved the book and will read it again one day I hope you do more videos. Peace Lara.
Thank you so much, Lara! I'm so glad you liked it.
Very nicely put! I just read it. Had no Idea that 1700's peolpe posessed that many feelings. Im happy, now remember to pet that cat.
Bruh human beings haven't changed all that much for the last 10,000 years (point of the agricultural revolution). Every problem in humanity that exists today has existed since we were a thing.
Sorry if I sound a bit harsh I just find stuff like this a lil ridiculous sometimes.
You had no idea people in the 18th century possessed that many feelings? 😂
That says more about you than could ever say about people from the 1700’s
Came here seeking context as I set out to read what has been called "The Creature's Library", or the books which Frankenstein's monster gets his Humanities education from. Thank you, kind sir. 🍻
Thanks so much for watching!
I'm about to read this for the first time. At this point, my mental state is a bit twisted by love. Can anyone explain how this novel might affect someone feeling this?
This book is a profound one. You'll see that Werther is very shortsighted, very enslaved to his emotions--in short, very immature. He is a marvelously rendered, tragic character, but certainly no one to emulate.
@@TheLastSitcom thanks for the insightful reply, I appreciate it.
@user-iu6ug5cr9g of course! Thanks for watching.
Allen Larry Wilson Brenda Williams Jose
When I read the book my last reaction was If he wouldn’t have done it … I would have taken a Literary-Time travel trip, and I would have finished the Job 🤨
Ha, he's a pretty goofy fellow, no? Sympathetic in many ways, but also (obviously) extremely destructive. Wish the guy could have grown up a bit instead of making such a rash decision.
Just finished
Thanks so much for watching!
So m did lotte like werther or no?
Probably yes, but it is not entirely clear.
The book has third person narration that are the editor reconstructing the the last days of Werther's life through eye witness accounts mixed with his last letters, but he does not say whether Lotte flat out admitted it or if he filled the blanks with his own speculations.
He was her red shirt. 500 days of summer was a modern version of that
She liked him, but wished to honor her commitment to Albert.
Wow
Very interesting video, i like your observations alot! This book must be read by all young men, because nowadays, the suicide rate because of women, has reached an unbelivable rate...One must be prepared, to fight against the poison of beautiful and charismatic woman. Goethe is a mastermind ! I hope to see more book reviews from you, you are good !
Werther was the first incel ever. Concluded.
This comment says more about you and the times we live in than it could ever say about Werther or Goethe, but oddly enough it would’ve been people like Goethe who could see genius in that.
Let's imagine, Goethe had been a Christian as were C.S.Lewis or Lew Wallace...what great stuff with cosmic, transcendental values and real insights could he have written instead of this belony.
Thanks for watching, and for this thoughtful comment. I do think Werther is a masterpiece. For a good contrast between Goethe and a more Christian writer, check out Marlowe's Doctor Faustus. Far superior, in my view, to Goethe's Faust.
Cheers, appreciate your comment.