The Sorrows of Young Werther

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

Unrequited love and the damage it can cause is one of the central themes of The Sorrows of Young Werther. The story centers around Werther’s attempts, and ultimately his failure, to manage and overcome his unrequited affection for Lotte. Werther’s infatuation consumes him from the moment he meets Lotte. Despite the warnings and advice of the other characters, with special note that she is happily engaged to Albert before they even meet, Werther cannot accept the impossibility of their relationship and remains stubbornly fixated on her. The novel’s epistolary style provides insight into Werther’s emotional turmoil as his feelings intensify. At the same time, the letters are a reminder that these events are filtered through Werther’s consciousness and do not provide access to Lotte’s inner life. Everything Lotte does becomes a source of joy or despair for Werther. This highlights the volatility of his emotions. This core part of his personality only exacerbates the already destructive nature of his unrequited love. His refusal to temper his feelings with rationality leads him down a path of self-destruction.