48 pages • 1 hour read
Johann Wolfgang von GoetheThe Sorrows of Young Werther
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1774A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Background
Literary Context: Sturm und Drang
Sturm und Drang, or “Storm and Stress,” is a literary movement that emerged in 18th-century Germany as a reaction to the Enlightenment’s rationalism and neoclassical conventions. At the time, the Enlightenment dominated the literary and intellectual landscape in Western Europe, emphasizing reason, order, and adherence to classical forms. However, this rationalistic approach stifled many young writers’ burgeoning emotional and imaginative capacities. The rigid rules of neoclassicism, inspired by ancient Greek and Roman models, left little room for personal expression and creativity. Writers of the Sturm und Drang movement sought to break free from the constraints of reason and embrace emotional intensity, individualism, and natural expression. These writers included Johann Gottfried Herder, Johann Georg Hamann, Friedrich Schiller, and most prominently, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Works of this genre tend to have a few key features. Sturm und Drang literature celebrates the individual and explores the human experience, giving precedence to subjective feelings and personal intuition. Characters are vessels for exploring intense emotions and the complexities of the human psyche. Nature plays a significant role, not merely as a backdrop but as an active participant in the narrative, mirroring the characters’ tumultuous emotions and inner conflicts. This connection with nature reinforces the rejection of artificiality and embrace of overwhelming force, be it emotional, natural, or even supernatural. Sturm und Drang writers are critical of the established order of their period and challenge the authority of institutions and the limitations imposed by social convention. Their rebellious spirit extends beyond the literary realm, contributing to broader discussions about freedom, autonomy, and the role of the individual in society. The influence of the Sturm und Drang movement extended beyond the 18th century and shaped the Romantic movement that followed in the early 19th century, influencing literary giants such as the British poets Lord Byron and William Wordsworth. The emphasis on emotion, individualism, and a connection with nature became central tenets of Romantic literature.
Authorial Context: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born on August 28, 1749, in Frankfurt. He received a strong early education and studied law at the University of Leipzig. However, he was drawn to literature and the arts and forged friendships with notable figures such as Friedrich Schiller, a lifelong collaborator.
The Sorrows of Young Werther catapulted Goethe to literary fame at age 24. The work resonated with readers across Europe. It sparked a cultural phenomenon—or social contagion—called “Werther fever,” which led sensitive young men who identified with the protagonist’s despair to dress like him and emulate his self-harming actions; the effect was considered so serious that the book was banned in Italy and Denmark. Goethe, too, was uneasy at the extreme nature of these responses, and the experience prompted him to reflect on literature’s influence on society, a recurring theme in his later works.
Goethe’s most celebrated work is Faust, a tragic play written mostly in rhymed verse. It explores the quest for learning and the human condition through its eponymous protagonist, a scholar who makes a deal with the devil in exchange for infinite knowledge. The first part was published in 1808 and depicts Faust’s pact with the devil and his pursuit of worldly knowledge and pleasure. The second part was published in 1832, after Goethe’s death, and delves into Faust’s redemption and spiritual transformation.
In addition to his literary achievements, Goethe was a crucial figure in the Weimar Classicism movement. Alongside Schiller, he sought to create a cultural renaissance in Germany that would rival the artistic achievements of ancient Greece. This intellectual collaboration resulted in the publication of the literary journal Die Horen, which aimed to promote the ideals of classicism and explore the intersection of art, philosophy, and science. Goethe also made contributions to the natural sciences, particularly in the fields of botany and color theory. He also engaged with philosophy, theology, and politics. His philosophical reflections, collected in works like Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship (1795) and Elective Affinities (1809), examine questions of individual fulfillment, societal responsibility, and the nature of human relationships. Goethe served as an official in the duchy of Weimar, where his diplomatic skills and commitment to civic duties endeared him to the ruling family, and he became an influential figure in the court.
While Goethe’s literary and intellectual achievements are widely celebrated, his personal life was marked by emotional turbulence. His love affairs, including one with Charlotte Buff that partially inspired The Sorrows of Young Werther, were often fraught. Goethe died of heart failure in 1832 in Weimar.
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By Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
