#doverthrift

[shelbys-commonplace]

The Sorrows of Young Werther

Wether is addressing his friend and letting him know of his love that he has discovered, in a letter dated June 16th.

“I am a happy and contented mortal, but a poor historian.”

In this line Werther is remarking on how this woman is able to blind him of his past mistakes and hurdles. I chose this line because I like how it shows his knowing choice to love her despite what his previous knowledge is telling him to do. Werther including his friend in this knowledge feels like an almost transfer of blame or fault if things go sour. 

[shelbys-commonplace]

The Sorrows of Young Werther

Werther addresses his friend, Wilhelm, in a letter dated July 18th. 

“Wilhelm, what is the world to our hearts without love? What is a magic-latern without light?”

Besides the obvious connection of love being equal to light, brighting and warming, there can be an alternate thought to this quote. In a later light is one single fleeting flame. The flame is not constant and can often times feel as though it is fleeing or hiding from you. This light can create phantom objects as well with the shadows that are created, constructing an almost imaginary word.

I chose this quote because of how it showed what the presence of love means to Werther. The inappropriateness of his choice of woman to fall in love with is extinguished when these are Werther’s thoughts. It is as he would be empty if it were not for something he could love, or at least inappropriately yearning for and pursuing.