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''The Sorrows of Young Werther'' ( German , '''''Die Leiden des jungen Werther''''', originally published as '''''Die Leiden des jungen Werthers''''') is a loosely Autobiographical Novel by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe , first published in 1774 . A climactic scene prominently features Goethe's own German translation of a portion of James Macpherson 's '' Ossian cycle'' of poems, which had originally been presented as translations of ancient works, and was later found to have been written by Macpherson.

It was Goethe's first major success, turning him from an unknown into a celebrated author practically overnight. Young men throughout Europe began to dress in the clothing described for Werther in the novel. It also led to some of the first known examples of Copycat Suicide . Supposedly over 2,000 readers committed suicide after reading this book at the time.

There are a number of different autobiographical sources that are said to have had a part in forming the novel. Having concluded his law studies in May 1772, Goethe finds himself working for the Superior Court of the Holy Roman empire in Wetzlar. He befriends the secretary Karl Wilhelm Jerusalem and, on June 9th 1772, they attend a Ball. During this paricular night, Goethe is introduced to a 19 year old Charlotte Buff and her older fiance Johann Christian Kestner. Goethe is said to have instantly fallen in love with Charlotte. Goethe pursues Charlotte and the relationship varies between friendship and rejection. Charlotte is honest with Goethe and tells him that there is no hope of an affair. On September 11th Goethe departs without a goodbye. The parallels described here are evident in the novel. Char(Lotte) is just like her counterpart in the novel, a daughter of a widowed official and has a lot of siblings. Goethe as well as Werther celebrate their birthdays on August the 28th and both leave (Char)Lotte on September 11th. However the novel also depicts a number of events that parallel closely with Goethe's friend Jerusalem who, like Werther, committed suicide. Goethe is informed that the motive for the deed was an unfulfilled love to the wife of the Secretary H from Palatine. Jerusalem had also gone on long moonlight walks that reflect his sad mood and had also borrowed pistols to carry out his suicide.

The majority of the novel is presented as a Collection Of Letters written by Werther, a young artist with a very sensitive and passionate temperament, and send to his friend Wilhelm. In these letters, Werther gives a very intimate account of his stay in the fictive village Wahlheim (based on the town of Garbenheim , near Wetzlar ), where he meets and falls in love with (Char)Lotte, a beautiful young girl who is taking care of her siblings following the death of their mother. Lotte is, however, already engaged to a man named Albert, who is in fact 11 years her senior. Despite the pain this causes Werther, he spends the next several months cultivating a close friendship with both of them. Every day serves as a torturing reminder that Lotte will never be able to requite his love, and after several failed attempts to break off his ties with her, Werther sees no other choice but to take his own life. After writing a farewell letter he borrows two pistols from Albert, under a pretence, and shoots himself.

''The Sorrows of Young Werther'' is mentioned in Mary Shelley 's '' Frankenstein ''. Frankenstein's monster finds the book in a leather portmanteau, along with two others-- Plutarch 's '' Lives Of The Noble Greeks And Romans '', and Milton 's '' Paradise Lost ''. He sees Werther's case as similar to his own. He, like Werther, was rejected by those he loved.

An episode of '' History Bites '' features this book, with Bob Bainborough portraying Goethe. It is also the basis for the story behind the opera "Werther" by Jules Massenet.

William Makepeace Thackeray wrote a somewhat comical poetic version of Goethe's story titled '' Sorrows Of Werther '' that captures the desperation, sadness, and also the humor behind this Bildungsroman tale.


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