Romanticism was a literary and intellectual movement of the close of the eighteenth century, which

inspired a great many writers, poets and artists across Europe and the American territories. Known
pioneers who developed the movement include Lord Byron, Mary Shelley, and Nathaniel
Hawthorne. Among them, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a German Romantic, enchants his readers
with dramatic feelings and actions emphasized over reason and rationality. Goethe is better known
for his numerous poems and novels, but especially for his piece entitled: The Sorrows of Young
Werther. This tragic novella embodies the ideals of Romantic literature in a remarkable manner.
Werther, a young sensitive intellectual falls into a deep passion for his cousin, Lotte, which unravels
into an epistolary tale of happiness and sorrow. The stability of the protagonists emotional state
seems to vacillate, as his mood swings appear rather sudden and rapid in this particular type of
literature. This over exaggeration of feelings is seen through numerous works part of the Romantic
Movement. Historically, Romanticism matured during a period of strong reforms in society. In
consequence, the pioneers of Romanticism could be in part expressing by literary means, a type of
mood disorder or just reacting to their mutating environment.
Romantic literatures starting dates coincide historically with those of numerous great reforms in
society. The Industrial Revolution was taking place and mass production was developing at an
incredible pace as businesses kept increasing in size and numbers of factories with thousands of
workers. The working conditions being increasingly poor and the society exploding with an obsession
over profits and expanding production only left place for practical and mechanical states of minds.
The more extravagant and natural parts of the mind were forgotten, and human feelings and human
condition ignored. Romanticism was a counter reaction and protest, which fought this new type of
thinking and way of life and reminded people of sensitivity, open-mindedness, human appreciation,
as well as love and passion society had lost. It was a revived state of being that this literature
presented, an escape from the mundane world of stress and suffering, working as a worker or even
as an entrepreneur at the top of the food chain. Werther shows his condescendence towards greedy
people and the type of society he sees is evolving: The affairs of the world are no more than so
much trickery, and a man toils for money or honour or whatever else in deference to the wishes of
others, rather than because his own desire or need lead him to do so, will always be a fool.(Goethe,
55). Additionally, the Age of Enlightenment brought together fascinating thinkers into groups of
discussions advancing philosophy and knowledge. This age developed strategies and government
policies and norms, which alerted some people because of its strict division of classes and
undermining of religion. Werther makes alliances and lives besides the wealthiest persons, until the
day when invited at a luxurious party, he does not belong anymore. The counts and dukes begin
talking about him behind his back and become ashamed by Werthers incompatibility. They think he
should not be among persons of higher social status. Even an intimate and reliable friend of his, Miss
Von B. who even resembles Lotte in many respects, has to desperately explicate to him society does
not accept Werther among the privileged. Furthermore, Religion is a continuing influence on
Werther as he says: If our hearts were always open, so that we could enjoy the good things God
bestows on us everyday, we should also have the strength to bear the misfortunes that come our
way. (Goethe, 48). As other Romantics, Werther mentions God all over his letters thanking God for
what he has and recognizing him as an omnipotent being.
In the eighteenth century, there was a growing rationalization of Nature that focused on the
physiology and technical aspects of Nature and disregarded the beauty, purity, and spirituality,
which Romantics associate Nature with. For Romantics, Nature is a great creation of God and thus it
is in itself holy and represents perfect beauty and form. Nature seems to bear the marks of
civilizations of men as Werther says: patriarchal ways come vividly to life about me, and I see them
all, the ancestral fathers, making friends and courting by the spring, and I sense the benevolent
spirits that watch over springs and wells. (Goethe, 27). Romantics often tend to have strong
connections with Nature and the influence Nature has over them it can alter the characters mood
or perceptions. When Werther is feeling bright and satisfied, he admires and praises Natures
perfection as when he says: Nature has inexhaustible riches, and only Nature creates a great artist.
He not only says nature has everlasting wonders but also attributes his own talent and achievements
in art to its effects. Moreover, when Nature is going through the season of autumn and it appears to
decay, Werther feels coincidentally yellowing himself, like the leaves on the trees, and fading
reacting almost in complete harmony with Natures cycles.
Werther writes letters on a regular basis to his friend, Wilhelm. This epistolary style is almost like a
diary for Werther, as he gives Wilhelm thorough descriptions of his daily activities and inner
thoughts. Some of Werthers letters communicate great happiness, pleasure, and an overall glowing
attitude. However, these content letters contrast with overly down and depressing ones following
them soon after. This quick and unprecedented change in mood is explained in psychology by the
category of mood disorders. Patients suffering from sudden shifts of emotions, like Werther in this
case, are diagnosed as having a bipolar disorder. His condition consists in a rather sudden switch of
extreme moods that goes from manic episodes to depression episodes. These two episodes are
entire opposites and each has its specific symptoms. On one hand, manic episodes constitute in
episodes of easy distraction, little need of sleep, poor judgment, poor temper control, excessive
activity and increased energy, racing thoughts, great agitation and/or irritation, very involved in
activities, high self-esteem, and intensive talking. While on the other hand, depression episodes
constitute in a very low mood, difficulty in focusing, overwhelming fatigue, feelings of worthlessness,
loss of pleasure, especially noticeable in once-liked activities, thoughts of death and suicide,
difficulty focusing, loss of self-esteem, and self-inflicted alienation from entourage.
Werthers love for Lotte is passionate and strong but through this ecstasy, manic episodea lurk
beneath. Werther, in his letter from the sixteenth of July describes a moment where he sits next to
Lotte and experiences great fervor. Each time she touches him by accident, excitement strikes him,
and a burning feeling, ignites in his heart and flows all through him. His over stimulated and
energized senses distract Werther. He feels a suffering pleasure when these sorts of accidents
happen, even though it is torture-like. Furthermore, he says, shall sink into the ground, as if I had
been struck by lightning(Goethe, 53). He feels as though he were in a throbbing and paralyzing
state but enjoys this paradoxical trance. He suddenly seems extremely light and delivered from any
suffering, when she plays the piano. This shows an alteration of judgment and rationality occurring
in his mind. He further pursues his description of passion explaining he would have gladly shot
himself through the head, which shows the manic episode is so extreme that it even makes way for a
happy outlook on suicide. He feels the only escape from this incredible and unreal perfection he
perceives in this state of folly is death, which becomes an inevitable next step for a consumed and
overly emotional character like himself.
Manic episodes alternate with the depression episodes within short intervals. Werther explains in
his twenty second of August letter that he lately has been feeling excessively tired and helpless.
Werther says: I can neither be idle nor accomplish anything(Goethe, 67). This shows he feels
useless and incapable. It appears as though the interests and passions he once had are entirely gone.
He admits sadly that he no longer venerates or admires Nature and even dislikes books. This goes
completely against his comportment during his manic episodes. He would have regularly taken
pleasurable in promenades through quiet parks and natural heavens he marveled at for their great
purity. In addition, he usually is a lover of literature and classical novels, such as The Iliad by Homer
he mentions as one book he often reads. He is hopeless and even wishes to be some type of day
laborer so his mind would be occupied in some manner at least other than his suffering spirit. A day
laborer is a quite harsh occupation and it solely is mentioned to expose his despair as well as his
readiness to make unthinkable sacrifices and life changes to retrieve strength and motivation to face
his existence. He finishes this letter by expressing a yearning for change and obvious impatience and
restlessness, a kind of frustration and longing for better things he unfortunately cannot satisfy
during his depression episodes. Protagonists of Romantic literature seem to be characterized by this
sudden mood change and could be the means to express these psychological fluctuations of mood.
Werther can be exhilarated and hopeful in moments away from Lotte when he has a manic episode.
The syntax used is full of exclamatory sentences and unending banter about how great his new
situation has become as if he had found a new solution. This happens regularly all throughout but an
example is in the letter of the twentieth of October when he left Lotte and his hometown to find a
profession. His profession keeps him busy and he becomes satisfied and even overjoyed: I feel far
better within myself now that I am among these people, kept busy day in, day out, watching their
doings and goings on.(Goethe, 73) However, the life he lives is still restricting him and satisfying and
he quits saying: If a man who grows potatoes and goes to town to sell his corn is not better
employed than I am, let me slave away ten whole years longer in the galleys I am chained in
now.(Goethe, 75).
Similar to Goethes novella is Emily Brontes novel entitled Wuthering heights. It presents two main
characters passion struck and full of extreme feelings. A young girl named Catherine spends her
childhood years with Heathcliff, her adoptive brother for which she develops a strong affection. They
ultimately realize they cannot be together because of their different social status and she must
marry a man named Edgar. This resembles Werthers situation, as Lotte cannot be with Werther.
Lotte is to marry Albert and to Werther who used to have exhilarating states mixed with depression
episodes of views the impossible love and experiences an increase of depression episodes.
Catherine, Lottes counterpart in Brontes novel, is more sensitive and she falls ill because she
witnesses a fight between Heathcliff and her husband, which will eventually cause her death.
Werther ends his life by firing a bullet to his head and his counterpart, Heathcliff, becomes ill
humored and will die of starvation after not eating for four days. Both of Brontes and Goethes
protagonists, when experiencing different emotions, their whole being is taken over, and sentiments
become the chief controlling factors of their behavior. Romantic literature often seems to exemplify
characters with an unstable and dramatic demeanor, which regularly leads to tragic endings. Writers
may be using the art of writing as a type of catharsis and free expression where their true selves and
feelings become exposed. Authors in Romantic literature might have transferred their sudden switch
of moods and over exaggerated sentiments to the patient and receptive paper in their works.
Writings of Romantic literature feature passionate and frenetic individuals, whose soul is vibrant
with the willingness to experience utmost emotions and their dichotomy. Romanticism presents
ideals of cognition and behavior that appear to be exaggerated, strange, and even unhealthy at
times. Romantics were counteracting against the movements, which flourished during the century
and presented another perspective. A position that stated that the society they were living in was
overemphasizing inhuman and greedy motivations in the Industrial Revolution and much too rigid
and unfair division of social classes, as well as a parting from the understanding of the true purity of
Nature. They represented their ideology through their novels with stories that went to the core of
peoples hearts and comportment, which is why Romanticism is recognized to have first initiated the
development of the foundations of psychology. Romanticism used extreme psychological expression
as a vessel to articulate their ideals in a more graspable and obvious manner.