The Sorrows of Young Werther

Throughout the novel, the natural world serves as a symbolic reflection of his inner feelings and experiences. This connection between emotions and nature is a common trend in the Sturm und Drang literary movement. As an artist, Werther draws inspiration from trees and views them as embodiments of steadfastness and loyalty. They also mark the locations of critical moments in his emotional journey: the lindens in Wahlheim, the trees he sits under with Lotte and the vicar, and the fruit trees in her orchard. These trees mirror his feelings, and their destruction reflects the erosion of Werther’s mental state. The vicar’s wife cuts down his grove, and a beloved willow is lost to a flood. In both cases, Werther sees it as an attack on the relationship and further fractures his emotional state. In his final note to Lotte, Werther requests to be buried under the linden trees in the churchyard. At the novel’s beginning, Werther states that he finds peace in nature, and that is ultimately where he is laid to rest.

The recurring symbolism of literal and metaphorical storms represents Werther’s inner turmoil throughout the story. From the novel’s outset, storms parallel Werther’s tumultuous emotional state, serving as a metaphor for the passions that consume him. His infatuation from his first meeting with Lotte is likened to a whirlwind of young love, backed by the real storm that interrupts the dance. The convergence of the emotional and literal storms underscores the symbiotic relationship between Werther’s internal turmoil and the external world. The symbolism of the storm extends beyond its literal manifestation to encompass the thematic undercurrents of the novel, particularly Werther’s philosophical reflections on the nature of emotion and existence. For Werther, the storm represents the tumult of his feelings and the existential struggle inherent in the human condition. As his emotional storm intensifies, the flood in Wahlheim serves as a visceral manifestation of the final destructive havoc his emotions have wrought on his relationships and himself. This storm serves as a manifestation of the final act of Werther’s existential crisis, forcing him to reckon with the fragility of earthly existence. The destruction wrought by the flood underscores the futility of Werther’s passionate pursuits in the face of his reality.