Werther & Lotte & Albert

Goethe’s *The Sorrows of Young Werther* is considered one of the first bestsellers in German literature. This epistolary novel takes the subjective narrative perspective to new extremes and elevates individual emotion to the status of a standard. With his passionate reflections on love, friendship, and despair, Werther became a role model for many young readers in the late 18th century. Still as relevant as ever, the text calls on us to balance empathy, desire, and responsibility. At the same time, it shows how a man absolutizes his emotions—and virtually demands new interpretations from a contemporary perspective. How does this famous love story appear in the mirror of a modern young generation’s experiences? And what becomes visible when the focus shifts not only to Werther but also to Lotte and Albert? …