As they drag him off to the minister’s golden wedding celebrations, Albert comes in and sees Werther, sitting in abject misery. After a Prelude, the curtain rises on the courtyard of the Bailiff’s house in the small German town of Wetzlar (it is never explained in the text what his real position is, but the frequently-used translation of ‘le Bailli’ as ‘magistrate’ is too legal to be entirely accurate – ‘land agent’ is nearer the mark). Despite it being July, Bailiff, who is widowed, is busy teaching his children a Christmas carol in their garden. They are watched by their neighbors, Schmidt and Johann, who find it very amusing. The many pages devoted to Ossian’s poem (Werther reading the translation to Lotte) is indulgent and unnecessary, but of course that reinforces Werther’s characterization. Sophie comes in and asks why Charlotte has not been to see the family so much – she says that Charlotte’s hands are cold and her eyes are red, and she tries to cheer her sister up. Werther becomes discouraged and insists that Charlotte remain faithful to her promise to marry Albert. It may be frustrating that the reader is only allowed access to Werther’s side of the conversation, but we should remember how closely this story is connected to Werther’s mental and emotional state; what is really the only important factor in this book is the main character’s thoughts, feelings, and reactions. I have carefully collected whatever I have been able to learn of the story of poor Werther, and here present it to you, knowing that you will thank me for it. That being said, The Sorrows of Young Werther is a novel worth reading. • In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Frankenstein's monster finds the book in a leather portmanteau, along with two others – Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans, and Milton's Paradise Lost. Werther, ACT 1. She is overcome with grief and prays for strength. Dejected, Werther mopes away and starts to contemplate committing suicide. Johann and Schmidt emerge from the inn, this time with Brühlmann, broken-hearted that after seven years of engagement, he has now separated from Käthchen. Biography of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German Writer and Statesman, Examples of Great Introductory Paragraphs, Analysis of 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by C. Perkins Gilman, A Well Known Quote Attributed to Goethe May Not Be Actually Be His, Frankenstein Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices, Understanding Point of View in Literature, 7 Young Adult Novels That Encourage Discussions on Racism, 'Invisible Man' Questions for Study and Discussion, Quotes to Help Celebrate World Teachers' Day, In Her Own Voice: Female Characters in 19th Century Literature, Islands in the Stream (c1951) by Ernest Hemingway, The Resurrection and Return With the Elixir, Ph.D., English Language and Literature, Northern Illinois University, M.A., English, California State University–Long Beach, B.A., English, Northern Illinois University. There is a lengthy entr’acte which explores the contrasting emotions of the main characters, during which, in one film version of the opera, Charlotte rushes through the town to find Werther. The moment is broken: Werther asks who Albert is, and Charlotte tells him, sadly, that Albert is the man whom her mother made her promise to marry, and that, momentarily, in the pleasures of the ball and Werther’s attentions, she had forgotten that promise. As his friends ask the Bailiff to join them for a drink at the inn, a teenage daughter, Sophie, comes in: she explains that her older sister, Charlotte, is getting ready to go to a ball. Sophie manages to catch up to him and interrupts his destructive thought process. To each of Werther’s letters, a response must be guessed or imagined, because none of the letters Werther received are included. He begins reading aloud an excerpt about the poet foreseeing his own death. Sophie greets him happily and he explains that he has returned after six months away to surprise Charlotte. They observe that the Prince apparently thinks a lot of him and has promised him a post as a diplomat, but diplomats are not much use at eating or drinking. Albert coldly tells Charlotte to let Werther have the guns. It is 5pm on Christmas Eve. Abruptly, he leaves, telling her that he is going away for ever. After everyone is finished eating and prepared for the evening, Charlotte and Werther depart for the ball while Bailiff tucks in his children and heads out to the tavern. Johann and Schmidt comment that several other people are also preparing for the ball – one has got his best coat ready, another had borrowed a horse, and two have got their carriages out; even Werther seems to be a bit less dreamy than usual. She tells him that he has not been forgotten, and he looks round at the familiar things which surround Charlotte – the harpsichord to which they sang together, the books they shared, even a pair of pistols which Werther says made him impatient for the rest he yearns for. When Albert returns home, he finds Charlotte nearly inconsolable. The Bailiff introduces Charlotte to Werther, explaining that since his wife died, Charlotte has been looking after the younger children, and Charlotte apologises for the delay, saying that the children expect her to make their meals. It was the first novel of the Sturm und Drang movement. Despite it being July, Bailiff, who is widowed, is busy teaching his children a Christmas carol in their garden. He dies, and as Charlotte collapses over his body, the voices of the children can be heard as they continue to sing the carol, welcoming Christmas Day. Goethe’s story The Sorrows of Young Werther can be found in many good English translations. Each disappointment pushes him nearer and nearer to the edge, of which Werther himself seems to be aware and almost welcoming. Premiered: February 16, 1892 - Imperial Theatre Hofoper, Vienna, Other Popular Opera Synopses:Mozart's The Magic Flute, Mozart's Don Giovanni, Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, Verdi's Rigoletto, & Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Sophie leaves, and as Charlotte prays for help, Werther enters the room. Sophie tells him that Charlotte has gone to the ball, but that they have been preparing for the wedding in anticipation of Albert’s return. The curtain then rises to show Werther’s study: a table filled with books and lit by a candlestick is in the centre, and out of a window at the back, snow-covered houses can be seen – the windows are lit in the Bailiff’s house. Judging by her quick reaction, Albert knows that Charlotte has feelings for Werther. Based on Goethe’s novel Die Leiden des jungen Werthers (‘The Sorrows of Young Werther’) of 1774. These sorts of devices make it difficult for many readers to connect with the story. The story of Werther does all these things, and the combination of Goethe’s moving, virtually autobiographical narrative, combined with the heady beauty of Massenet’s music, has produced for modern opera audiences as profoundly moving and shocking an experience as can be found on a stage anywhere. Top of page. She has been thinking of nothing but Werther, and re-reads his letters to her: in one, he writes of his loneliness, and in another, he mentions that she had asked him to return at Christmas, but that he had left for ever – commenting “we shall soon know which of us spoke the truth”. Out of nowhere, Werther has returned and surprises her. Later, when Charlotte exits the church, Werther talks with her about their first meeting. When he goes to embrace her she runs away as she says her last goodbye. Goethe understands that Werther’s “lost love” Lotte is not the true reason for his final descent and, for the close reader, this point comes across vividly and profoundly. Goethe’s novel itself is a revelatory glimpse into both the brightest and the darkest sides of human relationships, and it sparked off many operatic versions, but it is the opera by Jules Massenet which most brilliantly caught the spirit of the original. He cries out that she could have loved him, but that just as the sky was opening in brightness for him, he saw it close again. Just as he asks when he can see her again, her father calls out to tell her that Albert has returned. The protestant church is in the background, with lime trees in front of it under which is a bench; the rectory is on the left. The Bailiff is sitting on the terrace, surrounded by six of his children, teaching them to sing a Christmas carol: they sing it too coarsely – it is only July and they cannot take it seriously and he tells them that their sister must be able to hear every word clearly, so they sing it again, more seriously. Bailiff tells them that since Albert is not currently in town, Charlotte will be escorted to this evening's ball by the young poet named Werther. The Bailiff tells them that Albert has written to say that his business dealings are going well and they comment that he will make an ideal husband for Charlotte and that they are all looking forward to the wedding. That night after the ball, Werther confesses that he has fallen in love with Charlotte, but before he can get it all out, they are interrupted by Bailiff who passes them on his way home from the tavern. Perhaps, he'll be able to overcome his emotions without her and Albert in sight. He drops onto the bench, and calls out in anguish the same words he used at the end of the first Act – un autre son époux! Albert is clearly Charlotte’s fiancé. Learn more. He confesses that he had intended to stay away, but that he could not resist the desire to see Charlotte again. Werther's study, shortly afterwards Charlotte finds Werther lying on the floor mortally wounded. (‘another man her husband!’). Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774) is not so much a tale of love and romance as it is a chronicle of mental health; specifically, it seems, Goethe is tackling the idea of depression and even (though the term would not have existed then) bi-polar depression. The Sorrows of Young Werther, novel by J.W. His “cup over-floweth” and he radiates a sun-like magnitude of warmth and well-being to everyone around him. It will probably help you to get that bit closer to the story if you know the ages of the principal characters: Werther is 23 and Albert 25. She replies that he hardly knows her, and she tells him about her mother’s death and the sadness of the children when the ‘men in black’ came to take their mother away. First performed at the Vienna Opera, 16 February 1892, [First of all, so that there can be no doubt about it, a note about pronunciation. Charlotte bursts into Werther's home only to find that, to her horror, Werther had shot himself. The inn is to the right. Caramel has been our passion for more than 100 years. Charlotte is worried for his well-being and advises him to leave town until Christmas. The story of the opera They move off towards the church and Werther appears, watching them intently. Charlotte finally confesses that she has always loved him, and as she kisses him, the children’s voices can be heard singing the Christmas carol.
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