Reviews with content warning for Suicide - Die Leiden des jungen Werther

Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Die Leiden des jungen Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

90 reviews

studydniowka's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I was suffering with him

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just_remy's review

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

While I like the concept, there's always one major gripe I have with works form this era: the portrayal of women or, more specifically, female love interests, makes it really hard to connect with the male protagonists.

Werther's infatuation with Lotte borders on obsession but although the majority of the book consists of Werther's letters to Wilhelm, it doesn't become clear what he loves about her. Granted, she's more than just a pretty face but she's simultaneously too detailed for the reader to insert a crush of their own and too shallow to relate to Werther. And then there's moments that make you doubt if he loved her at all, like the fact that Werther's suicide letter to Lotte effectively blames her for his suicide, and fantasizing about how she'd be reading this letter specifically on Christmas feels downright sadistic.

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phrogen's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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teeinthebooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

szczerze to nie zasluguje na taka ocene, ale jestem super przywiazany do tej ksiazki... mam na jej punkcie obsesje, wszedzie widze wertera (w sobie tez)

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kryolitee's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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kryolitee's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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demonxore's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.0

Goethe's beautiful, poetic prose and poignant juxtaposition certainly lift this novel above the multitude of milquetoast love triangle narratives. After looking into Goethe's personal history, I discovered that The Sorrows of Young Werther is extremely autobiographical. Knowing this makes the book even more moving. Even though it was published in 1774, the agonies and lack of recourse from unrequited love are just as resonant today.

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