Long before the internet, the German literary giant had a cult following among young people for a novel that was consumed like social media posts.Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's novella "The Sorrows of Young Werther" was a worldwide breakthrough for the 25-year-old when it was published 250 years ago. Also Read | India News | Goa Govt Implements Unified Pension Scheme for Employees.
It was rumored that the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte read the novel seven times and spoke of nothing else when he finally met Goethe. Also Read | Business News | PM Modi to Launch Various Projects Worth over Rs83,300 Crore in Jharkhand on October 2nd. The dark take on doomed love went somewhat viral for its time, striking a chord with a whole generation of young people.
Young men struck by Werther 'fever' Werther is the novel's protagonist — he is only referred to by his surname — who falls in love with Lotte, who is engaged. As Werther's feelings for Lotte deepen, she remains faithful to her fiance. Ultimately Werther finds no escape from this obsession and resorts to taking his own life.
Goethe was a member of the German "Sturm und Drang" literary movement. Meaning "storm and stress" in English, this late 18th century movement among others focused on the individual as well as intense expressions of emotions. "Werther" tapped into the zeitgeist of many young men in particular who empathized and identified with the protagonist.
This was expressed, among other things, by imitating the fashion.