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  • Essay / The place of nature in The Sorrows of Young Werther

    The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is the embodiment of the Sturm und Drang literary movement that swept Europe. Werther reached the peak of popularity and inspired many young people, even leading them to dress like him. Werther, with a romantic temperament, always chooses his heart rather than his head. It is this heart over head mentality that leads him to his own self-destruction. Reading the letters written by Werther, we are immersed in his thoughts and feelings. Werther feels a deep connection with nature and his environment. Through Werther's connection to nature, we see how the natural world influences him. Through Werther's letters, we see how the outside world reflects his inner world. Through the genre of Sturm und Drang we see how Werther is the perfect example of stormy weather. As The Sorrows of Young Werther shows, for Goethe, nature has power over humans and their well-being. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The role of nature in the novel is exposed in both positive and negative ways. The first part being the external beauty of nature and its emotions and passions in Werther's writings. This use of nature is explored at the beginning of the novel where Werther is filled with joy and enjoys seeing nature as art. He writes: "I witnessed today a scene which, if written clearly and exactly, would be the most beautiful idyll the world has ever seen... must we tinker with nature before we can enjoy it" (Goethe 35). This is evident when he actively paints and writes poetry. Werther writes: “I had produced a harmoniously correct and striking drawing without putting anything of myself into it… only nature has inexhaustible riches, and only nature creates a great artist” (32). Werther attributes his talent to nature. He says he did not change the nature of his art, he only wrote down exactly what he saw. When he writes to Wilhelm, he shares the joy of nature when he is happy. At first, Werther tends to focus on the beauty of nature, but others do not. They focus on the physiology and technical characteristics of nature and ignore the beauty and purity with which Werther associates nature. Werther does not like the way men mistake nature for their own civilization, he writes: "The patriarchal ways come alive around me, and I see them all, the ancestral fathers, making friends and making friends with each other. yard in spring, and I feel the benevolent spirits. who watch over springs and wells. Oh, anyone who can't share this feeling has never had to cool off in a cool spring after a hard day of summer walking. (27) Werther does not understand those who do not receive joy from nature. When nature is beautiful, Werther feels good. When Werther feels good, he sees the beauty of nature. Werther's mood and the way Werther perceives nature go hand in hand. When Werther feels good, he considers nature to be good. Werther has an intense connection with nature. It cheers him up. But it can also depress him. Often the weather outside affects how we feel inside. This is true for Werther. In his letters we see how external nature modifies his inner emotions and feelings. The second use of nature in the novel is to describe Werther's condition and his journey towards his ultimate destruction. Werther writes that he has a special connection to nature and knows when his mood is worsening based on the natural world. He describes this to Wilhelm: “The sun was still.