Thoughtless Actions and Tragic Endings in Book of Thel and Sorrows of Young Werther

Introduction

Coming-of-age is a genre of literature that focuses on the growth of protagonist from youth to adulthood. Book of Thel and Sorrows of Young Werther are two works that fail to fall under that genre due to the actions and outcome of their protagonists. The questions and ideologies about life, existence, and death hinder both protagonists from maturing into adulthood and result into tragic endings. Both protagonists Thel and Werther question why objects that bring life and joy to others must fade, die, and turn into suffering and misery. Initially, both protagonists explore their world to find the answer, but later become victims of their own questions that lead to their downfall.

Book of Thel

In Book of Thel, Thel asks “why all [natural] things must end when springtime fades.” She explores the idea of why objects that brings life and joy to others must die when its existence is pure, joyful, and harmless. When the Cloud tells Thel that “life is a natural process that repeats but never fades” and “its purpose is for others”, Thel doubts she is given a purpose and fear that she will die useless and forgotten. When Clod of Clay confronts her, she finally understands that with faith in God, everything is given a purpose, and that purpose is service and sacrifice for others. Unfortunately, when a mysterious voice from the pit later confronts her about the uncertainties of life and death, Thel’s newfound understanding of service, purpose of life, and faith in God fades as she runs back to the Vale of Har. Just like nature and springtime in her question, Thel’s understanding of life and purpose prematurely ends when her faith in God fades.

Sorrows of Young Werther

Likewise, Werther in Sorrows of Young Werther asks “why the source of happiness becomes a man’s sorrow and misery” and also becomes the victim of his own question. In the beginning, Werther starts his journey in village of Wahleim, takes joy in his surrounding, befriends the locals, and falls in love with a lady named Charlotte from the village. Initially, his residency in Wahleim and newfound love bring his heart from “sorrow to immoderate joy”, but as time progresses his interest of the village and the people fades. When his love for Charlotte is unrequited and his discontent with the locals grow, Werther leaves the village and collapses into grief. Despite initially being extremely happy at Wahleim and infatuated to Charlotte, Wahleim and Charlotte become Werther’s sorrows that were once the source of his happiness. Werther has “so much in him, but the feeling of [Charlotte] and Zerrissenheit of unrequited love absorbs it all; without her, [his happiness] comes from nothing.”

The Comparison of Thel and Werter

Although Thel and Werther become the subject of their own question, both character avoid exploring their own question. Instead of finding the answer and truth, Thel flees back to Vale of Har to escape from her fears and Werther commits suicide after being overwhelmed by his emotions. Though both character’s climatic actions were similar, their rationalities are different; Thel’s action is act upon her impetuous innocence while Werther’s action is base upon his knowledgeable experience. When Thel wishes to enter the world of experience and leave her innocent paradise behind, the fear of losing innocence and the unknown prevent her from entering the new world. When she sees the mortality and futility of humanity, she cowers in fear and runs back to Har. Her impulsive innocence and discovery of death turned away mortal life, love, and self-knowledge granted in the world of experience. As she stays in Har, her Motto remains unanswered; can “love and wisdom be contained” and comprehended without first hand experience? Like her question about nature, Thel’s chance to experience life, love, and wisdom ended when she ran away from the opportunity. On the other hand, Werther’s action is determined and based on his knowledge of the human psyche. His inward turn analysis and discussion of the human mind and behavior with Albert foreshadow the actions he takes at the end of the story. He explains to Albert that when one faces difficulty embracing life and living in an uncontrollable and disenchanting world, logic and reasons, just like laws that govern a society, would succumb the emotions that overtakes a man. When a man is “unable to endure the measure of his sufferings,” emotions and the heart takes control of the mind and wretches the physically and morally trait of the suffer. After a man has endured too much, logic becomes a futile tool to combat emotion and the only solution to end the suffering, Werther alludes, is through suicide. Indeed, Werther experiences this when he is unable to overcome his infatuation with Charlotte and falls into grief. As he continues to see Charlotte and reminsd himself the unattainable love he has for her, his tone shifts from elegant to cynical, behaviors start to become unstable, and unpleasant plans for murder emerges. When the suffering became increasingly unbearable and his love is continually unrequited, Werther knows his escape is to commit the inevitable act of suicide.

Kant’s Thoughts

Book of Thel and Sorrows of Young Werther are works composed during the Age of Enlightenment. During this period, reason and individualism rather than tradition were heavily emphasized and influenced by various philosopher. One prominent figure that introduced the meaning of Enlightenment and being enlightened was German philosopher named Immanuel Kant. In his work, Answering the Question: What Is Enlightenment, Kant defines what it means to be enlightened and identifies the lack of Enlightenment as people’s inability to think for themselves due their lack of courage. He argues that ‘Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-incurred immaturity” and that “immaturity is lack of courage to use one’s reason, intellect, and wisdom without guidance of others.” Given this advice to Thel and Werther, both characters would have avoided self destruction and obstructions of their own Enlightenment. For Thel, she knows only innocence and eternal paradise and wish to learn about the life and ways of the mortal experienced world. Without the guidance of the nature and the fears conjured by the voice in the pit, Kant would have suggests to Thel to personally explore the world she questions and not be discouraged by her fears. Kant knows that it is difficult and uncomfortable for individuals to be free thinkers and they need to be cultivated and guided by other free thinkers. Likewise, Kant would have suggested to Werther reject his predisposition attitude and opinion about suicide and have an open mindset about other opinions and idea. Had Werther valiantly used his wisdom, reason, and intellect to look past his emotion and his view on suicide, Werther may not have replaced rationality with emotional obsession and committed suicide. Due to their thoughtless actions, both character disqualify their respective works from fitting in coming-of-age genre.