A Childish Death: A Critical Analysis of The Sorrows of Young Werther
Written as an assignment in a Literature in the Western World Course.
Throughout The Sorrows of Young Werther, the author Johann Wolfgang Goethe continuously refers to children and child-likeness. Werther, the main speaker of the story, illustrates the motif vividly, and the motif itself progresses the story that leads to his eventual suicide. Although ‘childlikeness’ seems to be a negative motif that induces Werther's downfall, it also symbolizes the pursuit of desires and can be seen as a positive force, as its absence in Charlotte contributes to her eventual despair.
The Relevance of the Childlike Motif
The motif of childlike behavior helps to build the theme of following the heart versus following the mind. During the novel, Werther is constantly discussing his opinion on whether it is proper to follow the heart or the mind. In the very beginning (May 10th-13th), Werther discusses how he no longer finds gratification in his hobbies of reading and drawing because he is infatuated with the beauty of nature. Werther’s letter on May 13th alludes to the fact that Wilhelm must have offered to send him new books, and Werther declines the offer and states he only reads Homer. He explains his reasoning by stating: “I treat my poor heart like a sick child, and gratify its every fancy. Do not mention this again: there are people who would censure me for it.” In this statement, Goethe introduces the motif of childlikeness, the public’s negative opinion about following the heart, children's connection with following the heart, and Werther’s stance on following the heart. Goethe uses the motif of childlikeness throughout the story to illustrate Werther’s relentless pursuit of desire, manifesting in self-harming traits like self-absorption and entitlement, which ultimately contribute to his suicide.
Childlike Motif in Werther’s Perspective
Werther has an interesting perspective regarding children, which Goethe implements in the book early in the plot. In his May 22nd letter, Werther argues that the happiest individuals are those who live like children, fulfilling their selfish desires, stating, "...I am ready to admit that they are happiest, who, like children, amuse themselves with their playthings…and attentively watch the cupboard, where mamma has locked up her sweet things, and, when at last they get a delicious morsel, eat it greedily, and exclaim, 'More!' These are certainly happy beings ..." At the end of the letter, Werther also subtly hints that the happiest person is one who can also acknowledge that they can escape life whenever they want via suicide. This suggests that from the start, Werther has little regard for his own life and, like a child, would willingly sacrifice everything to maintain a sense of control. In the text, Werther interestingly describes this sense of control as “sweet liberty”.
Throughout the story, Werther is quick to idealize the simple living of those of the lower class. Yet, almost always, Werther fails to realize that the reason they live simple lives is that they are living merely to survive. Werther thinks on this briefly in the letter of May 22nd, stating: “When I consider the narrow limits within which our active and inquiring faculties are confined; when I see how all our energies are wasted in providing for mere necessities …” This shows the limitation that Werther has to acknowledge the consequences of situations or empathize with others due to his child-like mentality.
In addition to Werther's childish perspective on life, he exhibits a childlike and borderline misogynistic view of love. In the letter on May 30th, Werther encounters a man in love with an older woman, and after hearing of his love, states: “I mean now to try and see her as soon as I can: or perhaps, on second thoughts, I had better not; it is better I should behold her through the eyes of her lover. To my sight, perhaps, she would not appear as she now stands before me; and why should I destroy so sweet a picture?” Werther suggests that once he sees the woman, he may no longer understand why the man is so captivated by her, implying that his love is contingent on physical appearance.
Werther's infatuation with Charlotte is akin to a child's possessiveness of their favorite toy. When Werther expresses his jealousy of Charlotte's husband, Albert, it’s not the love he envies, but rather the sense of "possession." As he exclaims in his letter on July 30th, "I could not endure to see him in possession of such a perfect being. Possession!" Werther becomes increasingly desperate and angry when he realizes he can not have Charlotte, much like a child whose favorite toy has been confiscated. His sense of entitlement and self-absorption ultimately drives him to suicide, which appears to be an attempt to punish Charlotte for withholding herself from him. As he writes in his suicide letter, “O Charlotte, today or never! On Christmas Eve you will hold this paper in your hand; you will tremble, and moisten it with your tears.” He knows his death will pain Charlotte and does so with seeming joy.
Childlike Motif in Charlotte's Perspective
Charlotte is painted as an individual with immense responsibility from her first appearance in the story. She was burdened with the responsibility of caring for her siblings after her mother died, and even taking on the challenge of becoming a wife as well. These burdens do not allow her to be as carefree and childlike as Werther is illustrated to be.
In the letter dated July 16th, Charlotte reflects on her reading habits, saying, “But I read so rarely that I prefer books that match my tastes perfectly. I’m drawn to authors whose scenes mirror my own life and the friends around me, whose stories resonate with my ordinary experiences—which, while not exactly paradise, provide me with a profound sense of happiness.” This may suggest her desire to escape reality, even if briefly, and to indulge the desires of her heart—a behavior the book characterizes as childish.
The editor in Werther’s letter on December 20th enlightens the readers on Charlotte's thoughts about Werther. The editor notes that Werther’s “...absence threatened to create a void in her life that might be impossible to fill…” highlighting the deep care and potential romantic feelings Charlotte had for him.
The editor then reveals that Charlotte’s real wish is to have Werther for herself, but because of her devotion to her marriage, the thought evokes negative feelings. The editor portrays her reflections, stating: “Amid all these considerations she felt deeply but indistinctly that her own real but unexpressed wish was to retain him for herself, and her pure and amiable heart felt from this thought a sense of oppression which seemed to forbid a prospect of happiness.”
When Charlotte is notified of Werther’s death, the editor states: “Charlotte's life was despaired of.” If this is a biblical reference, as Goethe often includes in this novel, it suggests that Charlotte is in a deep depressive state and may be considering suicide. This aligns with the idea that Werther expressed earlier, that “sweet liberty” involves escaping from life.
Shouldering the burdens and responsibilities of daily life demonstrates the immense maturity Charlotte has throughout the book. Caring for her siblings, trying to maintain a healthy marriage, and coddling Werther's childish mentality only led to her life being despaired of at the end of the book. Her unwillingness to pursue or even acknowledge her desires, a characteristic labeled as childish throughout the novel, leads to her despair.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ‘childlikeness’ seems to be a negative motif that induces Werther's downfall; however, it also symbolizes the pursuit of desires and can be seen as a positive force, as its absence in Charlotte contributes to her eventual despair. Charlotte's devotion to maintaining her marriage, children, and Werther’s mental stability all at once rendered her unable to pursue her desire in fear of the impact on others around her. Had Charlotte embraced a more childlike approach and pursued her desires, she might have found a way to save both herself and Werther from despair.
Goethe, Johann. The Sorrows of a Young Werther. Project Gutenberg, 2001.
