Sorrows of Young Werther, Goethe 1774
Channel: Age of Enlightenment
Date: 2015-12-29

The Sorrows of Young Werther was Goethe's first work of narrative art, published in 1774. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe lived from 1749-1832 in the the Holy Roman Empire. Shakespeare was being imported into Germany and translated by people  like Goethe, Schlegel and others. Romeo and Juliet both die for each other before they even have a chance to know one another. Goethe writes about a young man who can't live without his woman.

Goethe begins his book with doubt and ends with faith. He was against people throwing their lives away over silly love affairs. He was influenced by Gotthold Lessing.