"Sorrows of Werther" by William Makepeace Thackeray (poetry reading)

This seemingly light-weight funny poem is actually a deadly accurate parody of a very influential novel.

It is a succinct synopsis of the heartwrenching autobiographical work, "The Sorrows of Young Werther", by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 1832). This became the bible for young men of a romantic disposition which affected their lifestyle, manners, clothing and so forth - not unlike the influence that celebrities today have on the impressionable young. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sorrows_of_Young_Werther

Later in life Goethe bitterly regretted having written about his love for Charlotte Buff and he came to hate everything about the book. Most of all he hated that people knew it better than "Faust".

Thackeray was a witty and nastily clever writer, with such charm that you can't help liking him, as anybody who has read "Vanity Fair" can testify.

The picture is of Charlotte Buff, 1780 or thereabouts.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Goethe
• Sorrows
• Werther
• Thackeray

[SuicideOnMyMind]

that is far to true. love someone despite everything and they don't care at all if you live or die.

[SpokenVerse]

It has been said that the tragedy of love isn't parting or death - it's indifference.

[birophylum]

Forgive me for being pedantic, but in Werther the" th" should not be pronounced the English way, but just as "t", the German way. Thackeray knew that because he rhymed it with "hurt her".

Goethe's Werther is deeply moving, even in the English translation.

[EyeLean5280]

This one made me laugh out loud.

Gotta love Thackery!

[anmpir]

Lovely insight!

[menkbabe1]

For some reason this Thackeray poem, "Sorrows of Werther," struck my October season sense of humor in its sharp and macabre (almost) way. Thankfully, I am not so treated, yet the character here ends up in a comic way for his woman love is unmoved by his death and keeps on "cutting bread & butter."

I do like the poetry readings on this YouTube channel "Spoken Verse." Hurrah! for poetic humor, anyway, too. And for poetry read well.

Peter Menkin

Mill Valley, CA USA

(north of San Francisco)

[marcolopolis55]

Wonderful