Werther is a
– young,
– educated,
– middle-class gentleman.
He wants to make his mark on the world.
Werther aspires to be an artist.
Werther wants to escape the real world.
He decides to go to the country.
He wants to feel better.
In a small town called Walheim, Werther meets Charlotte.
She is a kind and beautiful woman.
She cares for her siblings after their mother’s death.
Werther falls in love with Charlotte.
But Charlotte is already engaged
to a man named Albert.
Werther tries to be friends with her.
He struggles with his feelings,
and his love becomes an obsession.
He becomes isolated and depressed.
He wants to take his own life.
Werther moves to another city.
He takes a position
as an attaché to an ambassador.
He fails to fit into the court’s social norms.
He resigns from his job.
He returns to the Walheim.
His emotions continue to trouble him.
He cannot resist seeing Charlotte.
He knows she cares about him, too.
Their feelings for each other intensify.
In a moment of passion, they kiss.
But this only makes things worse.
Werther’s love to Charlotte is too hard to control.
Werther decides to end his life.
He believes it to be a sacrifice for Charlotte.
Before shooting himself, Werther leaves goodbye letters to:
- his friend Wilhelm,
- Charlotte
- Albert.
Werther survives for a short time after the shot.
He then dies.
The novel is a poignant reminder of the pain
caused by unfulfilled love.