You have two options:
- Go visit the Met museum. Take a photo of a Romantic work of art (go to the European paintings this section is FULL of Romantic artworks) and discuss. Post the picture on the blog as a comment with your blog post (250 words) and bring your ticket in to class on Monday for full credit.
- Make a playlist (10 songs) that Werther would make for Lotte. (Or that Lotte would make for Werther!) For each song find a quote from the text to justify your choice and explain why you’ve chosen this song. MAKE SURE you use textual evidence and your own interpretation to justify your song choice.
Keep in mind, you will be sharing this with the class.
March 2, 2017 at 10:01 pm
Zoe Wong
March 3, 2017 at 1:45 pm
1) Sway- Michael Buble: This song sets the mood for a dance floor–a romantic one. The lyrics portray the narrator falling madly in love with his/her partner as they sway across the floor. The narrator can only focus on his/her partner, as the lyrics “other dancers may be on the floor, dear but my eyes would see only you, only you have the magic technique, when we sway I go weak…” Similarly, on page 40 of the reading, Werther dotes on Lotte throughout the whole time. He is swayed by the way she dances with him, and he recalls “how charming she was, how nimbly she moved!…as we began to waltz…like the heavenly spheres…” Werther falls into a mode of enchantment as Lotte as she prances him around the dance floor.
2) Let her go- Passenger: The song sets a melancholic mood for a heartbroken soul. The lines “Staring at the ceiling in the dark, Same old empty feeling in your heart…Well you see her when you fall asleep, But never to touch and never to keep, Cause you loved her too much and you dived too deep…” resonate well with page 116 under The Editor to the Reader. The editor mentions how “indignation and displeasure” slowly took over Werther and how “the harmony of his mind was completely devastated.” Perhaps Werther was suffering from incurable heartbreak of loving Lotte so much he was unable to overcome the fact that she is married to another man. Page 148 of the text notes the final moments of Werther before he shoots himself in despair of not being able to be with the woman he loves and these moments ride well with the lyrics “only know you love her when you let her go.” Werther let go of Lotte when he decided he must die.
3) Clarity- ft. Foxes by Zedd: The lyrics of the EDM “If you pull then I’ll push too deep and I’ll fall right back to you, ‘Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn’t need, Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don’t know why” relates to Werther’s unrelenting attitude towards fighting to see Lotte. On page 58 of the text, Werther writes “I find an irresistible reason, and before I know it, I am at her house…then who could stay away?” Similar to the tone set by the lyrics, Werther, who knows he’s falling too deep for Lotte and should stop himself from seeing her, cannot seem to do so. He knows she’s engaged and he should cut romantic ties with her but she remains to be the reason for his sanity.
4) Confident- Demi Lovato: The song starts off strong with a question “Are you ready?” and it cuts to “Now I’m letting go, I make my own choice…Whats wrong with being confident?” The song reveals a strong and confident side of Lovato and how she embraces the boldness that exudes from her. This can be a response to Werther’s amazement of Lotte’s strong sense of focus and confidence he discovers when she first speaks. He was “astonished” when it was revealed that Lotte has a knack for reading novels. However, it is not just any novels she will read, as she explains “I have so little time to read, it has to be something completely to my taste…I do love best of all that author in whom I rediscover my own world…” After her expressive feelings, Werther is in shock of how well spoken Lotte is and how articulate and aware she is of what she wants and likes. This confidence from Lotte appears to be very attractive to Werther.
5) You Belong With Me- Taylor Swift: The song reflects the feelings of a girl who sees her best friend, who is also her biggest crush, being taken away by his mean and bossy girlfriend. The girl knows her crush so well that she can recall all of his favorite songs and laugh at all his jokes. She is heartbroken by his decision to be with another girl who knows nothing about him. This relates to how Werther might have felt that although he was coming in between Lotte and Albert, he was a better fit for Lotte. On page 117 of the text, it is noted that “he loved Lotte more than anything in the world” and that “Albert often left his wife’s room when Werther was with her…” This sort of resonates with the mood set toward the idea that the “protagonist” of the story should be the true love of his lover.
6) We don’t talk anymore- Selena Gomez and Charlie Puth: The song speaks about two former lovers who have ventured off after their break up and met new halves in their lives. The lyrics “don’t wanna know, what dress she’s wearing tonight, if she’s holding onto you so tight, the way I used to do…we don’t talk anymore,” do not directly parallel the relationship between Werther and Lotte after Lotte marries Albert. Werther does not exit from Lotte’s life as Albert enters her life, but in his July 30th entry he does note “Albert has arrived, and I shall leave…it would still be unbearable to see him take possession of such perfection…” This parallel’s the song in that Werther knows he must leave Lotte when Albert comes, whether he actually does so or not, and how he hopes that Albert is treating and loving Lotte, as it seems if now Albert has a prized possession.
7) Latch- Sam Smith: The song Latch has the lyrics You lift my heart up when the rest of me is down (never),You, you enchant me even when you’re not around.” These lyrics portray a sense of missing someone and unrelenting love for someone who is not around. This reflects the mood of Werther’s January 20th entry as he writes to Lotte. He says “here you were my first thought…I was overcome with your image, the memory of you, oh Lotte!” He seems so in love and so latched onto Lotte that even when he doesn’t see her, he is still enchanted with the thoughts of her.
8) I think I’m in Love- Kat Dahlia: This song reflects a person who realizes she’s in love again with someone unexpected. The lyrics go “I think I’m in love again…I didn’t think it would be you…” Similarly, when Werther was first aware of Lotte, he was told to not fall in love with her, for she was engaged, and he notes that he remained indifferent by the warnings of her cousin since he didn’t think he’d fall in love with a stranger. However, later on, however, he finds him slowly falling for her. The text reads, “I made an effort to conceal my emotions at these words…how my entire soul was drawn to her animated lips and her fresh, glowing cheeks! How completely immersed I was in the splendid sense of her conversation…”
9) One Last Time- Ariana Grande: The song reveals how a girl knows her lover has someone else on their minds but she says “I need to be the one that takes you home…I don’t care if you got her in your heart” The girl, casting aside the reality that her lover has someone else, still wants to live in her truth that she has to have him for the last time. Similarly, on page 41 of the text, Werther realizes there is Albert, the husband-to-be of Lotte. He becomes confused and comes to the realization that the girl he has fallen for will not be his. However, he continues to see her day after day, as it troubles him more not to see her.
10) Hands to Myself-Selena Gomez: This sensual song by Gomez reveals a thirst to touch someone she is attracted to. This appeal to physical affection is relatable to the text as the way Werther had displayed physical affection for Lotte. At the end of the ball, he notes “I bowed over her hand and kissed it as I wept the blissful tears.” In a December 14th entry, Werther notes “I held her in my arms, pressed tightly against my breast, and covered her mouth, which whispered of her love, with never-ending kisses…” A display of affection and touch is natural in a situation which Werther is so in love with Lotte , even after she is a married woman.
March 5, 2017 at 3:32 pm
I really like the “mode of enchantment” you speak about here when you are discussing the song “Sway”. Would love for you to elaborate on this in class as it will be a common trope that is very important for Romanticism. Why is this “moment” represented over and over again in art, literature, film, etc??? what do you think?
March 4, 2017 at 2:24 pm
1.) The Smiths- I Want the One I Can’t Have:
“I want the one I can’t have, and it’s driving me mad It’s written all over my face.”
As Werther became infatuated with Charlotte he grew mad. In his eyes, Charlotte was the love of his life and since he couldn’t have her there was no point to living. “I Want the One I Can’t Have is perfect song for Charlotte as Werther wants her but can’t have her because of her engagement to Albert. “I Want the One I can’t Have “is portrays a man who can no longer hide his feelings from the one he can’t have. In the text, Werther commits suicide to end his suffering because he can’t have what he wants, “That I might have the happiness of dying for you! Lotte, of sacrificing myself for you.” (Goethe 148).
2.) Arctic Monkeys – Cornerstone
“She was close, close enough to be your ghost,But my chances turned to toast,When I asked her if I could call her your name.”
Werther continuously spent time with Charlotte but as his love grow stronger he couldn’t stand to be around her finance, Albert. All along Charlotte had chosen Albert, and Werther had difficulties dealing with the result. “Cornerstone” is a song that illustrates the fact that Charlotte didn’t choose him yet he spent so much of his time with her. When Albert arrived home, he could never understand why she chose him, “Albert has arrived, and I shall leave; even if he were the best, the noblest of men, one to whom I’d be ready subordinate myself in every way, it would still be unbearable to see him take possession of such perfection- Possession.” (Goethe 58).
3.) Arcade Fire – The Crown of Love
You gotta be the one, You gotta be the way, Your name is the only word that I can say! You gotta be the one.
As Werther spent more time with Charlotte he began to notice more about her. Everything he noticed, made him fall in love with her, in his eyes she was the one for him. As Charlotte expressed her interested in novels, Werther stated,” I found so strong a personality expressed in everything she said, with every world I saw new charms, new gleams of intelligence flashing from her features, which gradually appeared to blossom with delight because she sensed that I understood her.’ (Goethe 38). The Crown of Love is an expression of the pains of love. The song embodies a man painful rollercoaster he experiences with a woman he once loved.
4.) Otis Redding – For Your Precious Love
For your precious love means more to me. Than any love could ever be
For when I wanted you I was so lonely and so blue. For that’s what love will do. And all the things in the world, in this whole wide world, is just that you would say that you’d be my girl.
Werther felt that Charlotte intelligence and curiosity were what captivated his feelings. She enchanted his mind, and all he wanted to do was be with her. His precious love for her changed his experience in the new town that he escaped the city for. “For your Precious Love, first heard in the movie, “Mr. Nobody” is perfect because all Werther wanted was for Charlotte to be his. After him and Charlotte shared their first dance, he knew that he couldn’t see himself without her, “Never have I danced so effortlessly. I was no longer a mere mortal. To hold the loveliest creature in my arms and to fly with her like the wind, so that everything else around me vanished.” (Goethe 40).
5.) Otis Redding – I’ve Been Loving you for too Long
My love is growing stronger, as you become a habit to me. Ohh, I’ve been loving you too long. I don’t wanna stop now.
After Werther realized that Charlotte would not leave him for her finance, he tried to stay way. He knew that they wouldn’t be together but yet he couldn’t stay away. Redding’s song, “I’ve Been Loving you for too Long, captures the longing that Werther had for Charlotte, with ever encounter, his feelings grew. Werther found endless way to spend time with her. Werther love for Charlotte couldn’t keep him away, “I’ve resolved more than once not to see so often. Yes, but who could keep to that! Every day I succumb to temptation, and I swear a sacred promise to myself: Tomorrow you will stay away, and when tomorrow comes, again I an irresistible reason and before I know it, I am at her house.” (Goethe 58).
6.) Frank Ocean – Thinkin’ Bout You
Or do you not think so far ahead
Cause I been thinkin’ bout forever, ooh
Or do you not think so far ahead
Cause I been thinkin’ bout forever, ooh
Werther continues to write letters and diary entries to describe his encounter with a girl name Charlotte. The girl who would steal his heart, take over his thoughts, but could never be his. Frank Ocean’s, “Thinking’ Bout You,” is a story about a man who thoughts revolve around a girl who he wants more from. Werther would love a forever with Charlotte, if it was possible, “To tell you in an orderly fashion how I come to know one of the loveliest creature will be a hard task.” (Goethe 34).
7.) Usher- U Got It Bad
Know you know you got it bad when you’re stuck in the house.
You don’t wanna have fun, it’s all you think about.You got it bad when you’re out with someone.
But you keep on thinking ’bout somebody else,
You got it bad.
As Werther took refuge from a storm, he couldn’t help but think of Charlotte. As Usher sings in “U Got it Bad “Werther couldn’t resist thinking about Charlotte, the only person to make him happy, “As I came in, I was overcome with your image, the memory of you, oh Lotte! So scared, so warm! Good God! The first happy moment once again.” (Goethe 84).”U got it Bad” is a classic for anyone who’s infatuated by someone and only you do is think about them. It’s a song that captures the obsession of love, and the constant yearning for the person.
8.) Ray LaMontagne – Hold You in My Arms
I could hold you in my arms, I could hold you forever, And I could hold you in my arms, I could hold you forever.
Werther is willing to do more then just hold Charlotte in her arms, he would give up anything to be with her. A man who would spill his blood and sacrifice his life to show her his worthiness, “That I might have had the happiness of dying for you! Lotte, of scarifying myself for you! I would die courageously; I would die joyously if I could restore to your calm.”. (Goethe 148).Ray LaMontagne song capture romance and a yearning to be with the one you love, it’s a perfect example of the scarifies that a man is willing to make for the woman he loves.
9.) Percy Sledge- When a Man Loves a Woman
Well, this man loves you, woman. I gave you everything I have, Tryin’ to hold on to your heartless love.
Werther cannot fathom the fact that he no longer can spend time with Charlotte, everything reminds him of her. From the interior of the house, to the constellations in the sky, “When I used to leave your house in the evening and went out by the gate, it stood up there facing me. With what ecstasy did I gaze at it so often! – O Lotte, what is there that does not remind me of you!” (Goethe 147). “When a Man Loves a Woman, is a classical romantic song that every guy that can’t seem to win the girl over should dedicated. Even if the lyrics don’t touch your soul Percy’s voice is so soulful that Charlotte would have it on repeat.
10.) Childish Gambino – 3005
No matter what you say or what you do,
When I’m alone, I’d rather be with you. I mean, nobody out here’s got it figured out, So therefore, I’ve lost all hope of a happy ending. Depending on whether or not it’s worth it, so insecure, no one’s perfect.
On his way to the ball, Werther was warned to not fall in love with Charlotte. A woman who is engaged to Albert. Werther first warning had no effect on the way he felt for Charlotte from the moment they met. Werther knew that there was no happy ending to his story because of her engagement to Albert. As Childish Gambino raps in 3005, he lost all hope of a happy ending as he took his own life away, “They are loaded –the clock strikes twelve! Let it be- Lotte! Lotte, farewell! Farwell!” (Goethe 148). Childish Gambino’s “3005” would end of the cd as it captures his last emotion and conclusion that he can’t live without. Therefore if he can’t love till 3005 ( which is thousands of years away) there is no point of him lingering onto her.
March 5, 2017 at 3:34 pm
Karolina- I think the “U Got it Bad” analysis is spot on but I don’t know if I agree with this statement:
“Werther felt that Charlotte intelligence and curiosity were what captivated his feelings. She enchanted his mind, and all he wanted to do was be with her. His precious love for her changed his experience in the new town that he escaped the city for”
I feel as if Charlotte is merely a representation for Werther…which allows him to idolize her and I also feel that this is very important for the text. Maybe in class you can elaborate on what made you feel that it was her intelligence and curiosity that captivated him…?
March 4, 2017 at 3:27 pm
http://imgur.com/a/3c9tx (I had to upload to share the picture here)
This romantic painting is “Wanderer in the storm” by the German artist Carl Julius von Leypold at 1835. The first impression of this painting reminds me of the painting we saw in class – “Wanderer above the sea” by Caspar David Friedrich.
In the center of the painting, we can see a man in a long coat with a walking stick in his hand (the same appears with the man in Wanderer above the sea) walking on a narrow road.
The background seems to be an abandoned area with the combination of nature (Which is a very important theme of the romanticism). We can also see the storm in the very back of the background, dead trees across the painting, and the lake; the background also fades into some very smoky colors with only the mountain are visible to the audience. It gives us a very depressing ,lonely and complicated feeling as we see the man walking alone in the storm.
March 4, 2017 at 6:46 pm
Romanticism is a style of art that rose in the 19th Century in Europe. It was a response to the Enlightenment and the aftermath of the French Revolution of 1789. Romantic art focused on imagination and feelings. The subject of each piece of art varied from landscapes, religion, and revolution. The piece of Romanticism art that I chose was “Christ Asleep during the Tempest” by Eugène Delacroix, painted on 1853.
The painting is mostly covered with dark colors setting the mood of the whole painting. The colors also set the mood of the type of weather, atmosphere, and emotion the people in the paintings are in. In the painting, Christ is asleep and is in a calm state, not aware of anything going on around. This is the complete opposite of all of the other passengers on the boat. All of the passengers on the boat are terrified for their lives fighting against the strong waves. The color that stood out the most was the halo on Christ. It was a bright yellow color that stood out from the dark colors around it. In general, Christ gives of a different feel than the others on the boat.
This painting represents man versus nature and the feeling of the sublime. Man versus nature is shown here as the passengers lose all control of their boat because of the strong weather and waves. The feeling of the sublime is shown by the passengers, who show terror in their facial and body expressions.
March 5, 2017 at 3:35 pm
Alina-
You have definitely chosen a good painting for this. I really would like you to discuss how you saw the “feeling of the sublime” in the faces and expressions as I think that this is really important.
For future references, you do not need to introduce Romanticism or any theme really with a route definition. I prefer that you write your thoughts and feelings instead 🙂
March 4, 2017 at 8:48 pm
Picture: https://i.gyazo.com/a2fab74c06b77db137e897018503d1c7.jpg
As I toured the Met’s 19th and early 20th-century European paintings section, one painting in particular stuck out to me. The romantic painting is called, “The Manneporte near Étretat” and was painted by the French artist, Claude Monet in 1886.
Unlike the other Romantic works, which was typically depicted by a woman surrounded by lively green gardens, Monet’s painting had a more ethereal touch to it. For example, the elusiveness of the cloudy horizon brings out the intangible and unfathomable element of nature, ultimately evoking a sublime sense of awe and tranquility. On the flip side, focusing only on the cliff and the sea evoked a sense of powerlessness as I imagined that I was clinging to the rugged cliff amidst a sea of unending raging waves. In contrast to the soothing quality of the clear skies and horizon, Monet’s representation of the sea is associated with the feeling of terror.
Monet’s painting also has no humans, only the boundless glory of an unmovable cliff. His choice to exclude humans hints at the romantic idea of a “morally healthy” connection between nature and man. Although Monet’s painting is devoid of humans, he compensates by imbuing a vivid and life-like aura to the cliff. His careful attention to details, such as the cliff’s shadows and rugged features is what replaces the human aspect. In a sense, one could say Monet’s careful attention to detail, which imbues the cliff with life, is a perfect union between man’s creativity and nature at its purest form.
March 5, 2017 at 3:37 pm
“Monet’s representation of the sea is associated with the feeling of terror.
Monet’s painting also has no humans, only the boundless glory of an unmovable cliff. His choice to exclude humans hints at the romantic idea of a “morally healthy” connection between nature and man. Although Monet’s painting is devoid of humans, he compensates by imbuing a vivid and life-like aura to the cliff. His careful attention to details, such as the cliff’s shadows and rugged features is what replaces the human aspect. In a sense, one could say Monet’s careful attention to detail, which imbues the cliff with life, is a perfect union between man’s creativity and nature at its purest form.”
Expect to elaborate on these observations in class.
March 4, 2017 at 9:37 pm
Picture: http://imgur.com/a/Dr8aV
The name of this painting is “Nordkapp” which was painted by Peder Balke. What caught my attention immediately when looking at this painting was the cape. The cape gave a sense of calmness when the moon shined onto the cape. However, the surroundings of the cape in the painting gave a sense of gloominess from the dark water and also from the color of the clouds. This was further illustrated when there were no other boats sailing to the cape nor were there other people aside from the sailing boat. From what we discussed in class, romanticism included the idea that nature represented God and how nature itself reflects the emotions of the individual. I thought that the cape itself in this painting, was the center of the world and that the shining from the moon represented God. The water was not rough compared to other romantic paintings that I’ve seen, but calm. At that moment, I thought that the painter did not feel intense emotions which would have been conveyed, had the painter used different colors or very dark colors. This painting felt more in between the colorful and dark emotions because there was a sense of balance between the moonlight and also the dark water. In addition, although there were no other sailors in the painting, just thinking about the sense of achievement or fulfilment that the sailors would feel when stepping onto the cape makes me feel delighted because they have finally reached their goal.
March 5, 2017 at 3:40 pm
Really Interesting reading of this. I think it is smart that you focused on the cape as the equalizing force of the painting. Would like you to focus on this for class Monday.
March 5, 2017 at 11:14 am
1. Grenade By Bruno Mars
Lyrics:Oh oh, I would go through all this pain. Take a bullet straight through my brain. Yes, I would die for ya baby, but you won’t do the same
Werther is so infatuated with Lotte that he eventually kills himself at the end of the story alone. Lotte has moved on to marrying Albert and continuing to live her life. On page 148, Werther says, “that i might have had the happiness of dying for you! Lotte, of sacrificing myself for you!” In my opinion, the idea of hopeless love is a common theme because only one side is showing love and the other side is avoiding it. This relates to “Grenade” because Werther “attached” himself to Lotte and the “pain” he suffers is heartache because she does not love him back.
2. Make You Feel My Love by Adele
Lyrics: I know you haven’t made your mind up yet, but I would never do you wrong. I’ve known it from the moment that we met no doubt in my mind where you belong.
Go to the ends, of the Earth for you, to make you feel my love.
This song would be played from Werther to Lotte because he confesses her love to her and vows to never let her down. Albert would leave Werther and Lotte alone because he did not feel comfortable all together in one room because of the tension that surrounded them all. When Lotte’s father passed away (page 117) Werther joined her on her way home so she wouldn’t be alone. He wants Lotte to feel okay because he does not want to see her suffer. He wants to “respect her as she deserves” by making her feel all the love she can. He sees that Lotte is in emotional pain and he wants to comfort her, so he would send her this song to pass on that message in hopes she will realize.
3. Just The Way You Are- Bruno Mars
Lyrics: When I see your face, there’s not a thing that I would change, ‘cause you’re amazing, just the way you are.
I feel like this song really does capture the mood of when Werther first spots Lotte. In my head I picture the first second he lays eyes on her, this song plays in the background. In cliche terms, it was love at first sight. Werther states, “I found so strong, a personality expressed in everything she said, with every word I saw new charms, new gleams of intelligence flashing from her features…appeared to blossom with delight.” When Werther sees Lotte, all of a sudden everything seems right in the world. He goes into a trance of happiness and affection for this girl because of how well she cares for her siblings. He wants to do his best to show her that he can be the greatest lover for her because he loves her for the way she is.
4. Everytime We Touch by Cascada
Lyrics: Forgive me my weakness, but I don’t know why, without you it’s hard to survive. ‘Cause everytime we touch, I get this feeling And everytime we kiss I swear I could fly,Can’t you feel my heart beat fast, I want this to last. Need you by my side
On page 40, Werther and Lotte dance for the first time together at the event and when they begin dancing, Werther is living his dream because he felt alive or a “mere mortal.” When he danced with her, he felt like everything around him disappeared and the only things that mattered was the both of them. He felt a connection with her that he has never felt with anyone else and he realized it when they were dancing. When they touched, he sensed an infatuation with this women and never wanted to let go.
5. Marvin’s Room by Drake
Werther would also send this song to Lotte because he wants to show her what he can offer to her. He knows that he can make her happy and he can appreciate all that she does such as taking care of all her siblings and the love she has for them. Just because Albert is an amazing man who is “the best of the best, noblest of men” Werther believes he is better for her. On page 84, he writes to Lotte to prove and reiterate how he makes her feel such as his “senses are becoming parched.”
6. Speak Now by Taylor Swift
Lotte would send this song to Werther because she is content with being engaged and marrying Albert, so Werther needs to stop being a persistent clinger by appearing everywhere and trying to ruin it. This song is about an ex-lover interrupting their ex’s wedding. This is ironic because Werther wants to meddle in between Lotte and Albert, so she can realize that Werther is the one she should love, not Albert. The third person, who is the new lover does not really say much in the beginning because they allow it to happen out of respect, but then reaches a point where there is a rift in between them and Albert is not in the room with the three of them. Werther realizes that he cannot come in between and commits suicide using Albert’s pistols
7. That’s What You Get by Paramore
In my opinion, both Lotte and Werther can send this song to each other, because the chorus in the song is “that’s what you get when you let your heart win.” Werther’s heart overcame his mind because of how much he loved Lotte and wanted to be with her so bad, so it lead to him killing himself for not getting what he wanted. And in order for Lotte to be happy she comes to the idea of subjectivity to realize what is good for her, which is to not continue to build a relationship with Werther. I would say Werther is proud of his sufferings, because if he could not have Lotte at the end, that means he deserved nothing, leading him to give way to what he
feels.
8. Drop in the Ocean by Ron Pope
This choice of song is quintessential to Werther and Weather. In the story, the weather has a huge effect on the mood such as for an example on page 41, “the summer lighting began to grow far more pronounced and thunder drowned out the music.” Werther would send this to Lotte because “a drop in the ocean is a change in the weather” which means he wishes that they both ended up together. An ocean is usually calm, until a drop occurs and all of a sudden there is torrential downpour and it is chaos in the oceans along the waves and winds.
9. Stay With Me by Sam Smith
This song encapsulates the entire love story between Werther and Lotte. Werther time and time again states how she is “all he needs” because of how perfect she is. His constant writing to her is his clearest expression that she is all he needs to survive because her presence is that effective on him. Werther realizes that Lotte does not want to be with him so he realizes that “this love ain’t clear to see” meaning Lotte does not realize it so he has no other choice to just kill himself because she does not feel the same.
10. My Addiction – Sara Haze
This song relates to Werther and Lotte perfectly because he is addicted to Lotte. Her presence is magical to him because he forgets everything around the both of them. In relation to Lotte, “You were my strongest weakness” fits altogether with the ending of the novel. Werther felt “tremble in his knees” when he first laid eyes on her. He pretended to like Albert because he was a well rounded nobleman, but deep inside he disliked him because of the “jealously” he had for Lotte’s approval of marrying him. Lotte consumed Werther’s mind because he could not imagine a life without her.
March 5, 2017 at 1:21 pm
The painting I chose is Evening: Landscape with an Aqueduct by Theodore Gericault. When approaching the painting at the Met, I immediately felt inferior to the size of the canvas. It towered above me, and I was forced to take a step back in order to see the entirety of the painting. My eyes were drawn to the light colored sky. As stated in the title, evening is approaching and the sun is clearly setting. The “Golden Hour”— a picturesque moment before the sun has set, where the land is lit up with regal colors— is coming to a close. The gloomy sky has arrived, and there is an overwhelming feeling of what is to come next. In this moment when the golden hour has passed and night is approaching, there is a perpetuation of “The Sublime”. Between the physical grandeur of the painting, and what the canvas actually depicts, I could not help but feel anxious, yet content in knowing that I am merely looking at a painting. In particular, the lower portion of the painting stuck out to me. In most Romantic-genre pieces, humans are nonexistent or pushed towards the back of the artwork. However, Gericault painted them right in front for the onlooker to notice. The humans are swimming in water, or climbing the rocks around them; they are active participants in nature-born activities. The humans are enjoying their natural surroundings, and there is a mix of land and the industrialized aqueduct in the center of the painting. From this, I leave with the feeling that we can have man-made buildings and inventions around us, but there is no greater joy than a God-made surrounding.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18u-L53zUcQufYtGfTpQn9Gt7gIQxVHq-z25mzzJFuLU/edit?usp=sharing
March 5, 2017 at 3:42 pm
Excellent! I Would love for you to talk about the relationship between the golden hour and what you feel is the sublime in this painting for the class !
March 5, 2017 at 2:10 pm
What I love about this picture is how when I look at it I get a feeling of a certain romance. Not a boyfriend-girlfriend type romance but something much larger. I am not quite sure what happen to the girl who is lying on the ground but it looks like something devastating. The care she is receiving from the people around her is what I see as the “romantic. Them caring for a possible stranger symbolizes the care some people have for other. This reminds me of a current situation my best friend is going thru at the moment. His mother has bone cancer that spread rapidly. Where I’m from, that family is highly respected and they have a very big family. Knowing what they’re going through it’s very nice to see people in the community love and support that family. So when seeing this picture, I see a much more expanded meaning of romanticism. Being able to relate a real life situation to a painting will really help someone engage with the painting more. I do not understand what is going on in the back with the two people fighting and one man running away. That could symbolize that they may have damaged the girl on the ground and tried running away. It seems as if one man got caught and one got away. But despite what is happening in the picture, the setting is a curveball for me. It’s a pretty happy feeling setting but a disaster happens in the painting. Tons of possible ways to view this painting.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VxMivClKUu-bje0tkWaO5FBHEs1r2Y1EwHqrGif3ta0/edit
March 5, 2017 at 3:43 pm
Sam- So happy that you found a painting that spoke to you. Would really like for you to speak to the class Monday about the paradox you so rightly pointed out between the “happy feeling” you mentioned and also the feeling of disaster. What does it mean that this paradox exists?
March 5, 2017 at 2:31 pm
The starry night must be one of the most important masterpieces for Van Gogh. In people’s eyes, he would just like the young Werther who is so idealistic and romantic. As other geniuses, Van Gogh cannot be understood at his time. Being so desperate, after cutting his ear off, he finished his fantastic painting The Starry Night at a madhouse.
The Starry Night describes a screen that under sky full of shinning stars, one part of Arles sleeps in a peaceful but vivid night shadow. The dim moonlight make the whole city look like a dream. Some people say Van Gogh draw this breathtaking view based on what he saw through a tiny window from the madhouse, but others say it’s Van Gogh’s imagination for the night that he should have seen and want to see. Disappointed by the fate, Van Gogh cannot be understood by anyone except his younger brother and a close art friend Paul Gauguin. However, because of the changes of life and a divergence about painting, both of them left Van Gogh which makes him feel be abandoned by the whole world. Personally, I prefer the second idea that this beautiful starry night is Van Gogh’s imagination during his sober and insane moment. This breathtaking view should only exist in someone’s dream. The night cannot take the beauty of Arles, because the moon and star tenderly give the city a shining cloth. The light makes the city sacred, but also brings a little bit blue to it. This kind of sorrow is not so strong, but is buried in the blue background. This blue is not only one kind, it’s a mixture of all kinds of blue. Light and dark, like the different kinds of blue color in the picture, are the conflicts in Van Gogh’s mind between reality and illusion. He cannot tell the differences between, because it’s already mixed together, and also, no one else.
March 5, 2017 at 2:33 pm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Starry_Night#/media/File:Van_Gogh_-_Starry_Night_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
the link of the picture
March 5, 2017 at 3:28 pm
You need to pick an artwork that is in the Met museum and VISIT IT yourself. That was the assignment… please read the instructions for again carefully…
March 5, 2017 at 3:22 pm
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-1jmgGGazPrN3h0YWtwRlZQUjQ
The painting I chose is Evening: Landscape with an Aqueduct by Theodore Gericault. When I looked at this painting, I had a strong feeling of being pushed backward. Because colors that were used are dark gray, dark green, brown and blue, the dismal weather and natural environment conveyed a sense of ruthlessness and unpredictability. There are dark clouds covering the half of the sky. There are seven men and only one old man wearing clothes. They look like workers or peasants. Five men in the river seem very upset and scared. Three of them grab stone very firmly and two men in the water hurry to swim to the riverside. It seems someone is chasing them or these men are escaping from somewhere. One of man in the water turns his head as if he is checking that no one is behind them. He looks upset, sad and frightened. Another two men on the other riverside, are talking to each other. It seems like the naked one is asking the older man where his companions and he could go. The whole picture gives me a feeling of hurry, worry and hopeless. Dark clouds are moving to cover the whole sky and storm is coming. There is an old haunted house nearby. Even though there is brightness and the sun can still cast a few light on the ground, men are in the shadow, in this abandoned area. They are not moving toward the house and they don’t have clothes to cover them, to warm them, and to secure them. All nature in this picture looks scary and depressed as if nature is going to swallow these tiny men. The surrounding is desolate and dilapidated. Because it is a very big picture, I have a strong feeling of nature’s power and indifference when I stood in front of it.
March 5, 2017 at 3:44 pm
This feeling you had:
“The whole picture gives me a feeling of hurry, worry and hopeless”
Interests me and I would like you to talk more about it in class .
March 5, 2017 at 4:05 pm
http://imgur.com/AioLDZg
“Christ Asleep during the Tempest” by Eugène Delacroix
March 5, 2017 at 4:29 pm
1. Artists: Aventura
Song: “Su Veneno” in English “Her Poisson”.
I choose this song because it reflects how the man (Wether in this situation) is so engaged in her love for Lotte that he let himself be poisoned by her beauty and the anxiety of not being able to be with her.
Here is a little peace of the lyrics that anyone can translate on google:
Mi futuro esta en sus mano
Y si acaso es un pecado
Que le voy a hacer (no se)
Como puede ser tan bella
Y a la vez envenenarme
Con su dosis de miel (ayy)
Ella tiene un toxico agre y dulce
La sustancia de mi amor (tiene el control)
Quote:
Page 122.“Dear Wilhelm, I am in the state that must have been experienced by those unfortunate creatures who ere thought to be ridden by an evil demon. At times it takes hold of me; it is not error, not lust— its an unfamiliar inner frenzy that threatens to rip my breast apart, that constricts my throat!”
2. Artist: Dion DiMucci
Song: lovers who wander.
Released: 1962
Gender: Jazz.
Even though the quote that I select for this song is a fiction in Wether’s mind, I related because is about a lover that is not physically there with the person and the song end up with the moment in which he realized the idealization of the love is gone.
Quote: Page 123.”And as I looked down in my melancholy at a spot where I had rested with Lotte under a willow tree after a warm walk—– that too was flooded, and I could hardly discern the willow!”
Lyrics can be found:
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/dion/lovers+who+wander_20249897.html
3. Artist: Bon Jovi.
Song: “I’d Die For You”
Their sentiments are mirror in despair.
Both song and character fell the same sadness.
Quote: Page 148. “That I might have had the happiness of dying for you! Lotte, of sacrificing myself for you! I would die courageously, I would die joyously if I could restore to you the calm, the bliss of your life.”
4. Artist: The Partridge Family
Song: “I think I love you”
This song represents the moment in which a person is coming to terms with the feelings that they have tried to suppressed.
Quote: Page 123. “What is this, my dear friend? I frighten myself! Isn’t my love for her the most sacred, chaste, brotherly love? Has my soul ever felt a punishable desire? I will not declare and now, dreams!”
5. Artist: The Rolling Stone
Song: “Paint it Black”
This song expresses the felling of helplessness and seeing only darkness around.
Quote: Page 148. “Here, Lotte! I do not shudder to take the cold, terrible chalice from which I shall drink the ecstasy of death! You handed it to me, and I do not waver”.
6. Artist: Romeo Santos
Song: “Propuesta Indecente” in English “Indecent Proposal”
I relate this song with this quote because in the video of the song and in the quote as well, Romeo Santos and Wether, imaging themselves doing lover acts with the woman that they love even though she is taken by another man.
Quote: Page 123. “I tremble as I say it, I held her in my arms, pressed tightly against my breast, and covered her mouth, which whispered of her love, with never-ending kisses; my eyes swam in the intoxication of stove, sealed a few packets a addressed to Wilhelm.”
7. Artist: Skid Row
Song: “I remember you”
This song brings memories of long lost lovers and that felling of ecstasy (joy) it bring to the hearts of those remembering. ; A sweet sorrow.
Quote: Page 84. “As I came in, I was overcome with your image, the memory of you, oh Lotte! So sacred, so swarm! Good God! The first happy moment once again.”
8. Artist: Enrique Iglesias
Song: “El Perdedor” “The Loser”
In this song Enrique Iglesias states that if he is the loser between him and her boyfriend, he prefer letting her go than be her sentimental prisoner.
Quote : Page 58. “Albert has arrived, and I shall leave, even if he were the best, the noblest of men, one to whom I’d be ready to subordinate myself in every way, it would still be unbearable to see him take possession of such perfection—possession!”
9. Artists: Romeo Santos FT Drake.
Song: “Odio” in English “hate”
This song express both authors feeling of why they envy the man of a woman they like, saying phrases like “por el estar a tu lado perdi tu amor , soy un pobre diablo” ENGLISH “because of that man being next to you, you couldn’t love me ; I am a poor and miserable man” The quote that I select for this song has different scenarios in which I can use more than one song to describe it.
Quote : Page 58.”Albert has arrived, and I shall leave, even if he were the best, the noblest of men, one to whom I’d be ready to subordinate myself in every way, it would still be unbearable to see him take possession of such perfection—possession!”
10. Artist: Javier Solis
Song: “Morir Por Tu Amor” ENGLISH “Die for your love”
I relate this song to this quote because according to the author this song and wether they are stating that dying for the love of your life is a sad pleasure.
Quote: Page 148. “That I might have had the happiness of dying for you! Lotte, of sacrificing myself for you! I would die courageously, I would die joyously if I could restore to you the calm, the bliss of your life.”
March 5, 2017 at 4:50 pm
https://outlook.office.com/owa/service.svc/s/GetFileAttachment?id=AAMkADFkNGNlNzhkLTFkZGEtNDBjYS05Y2EzLTg2OGNlYzk3ZGVlNwBGAAAAAAB9Dt1cP%2B0PSYjaX9TcGyWRBwDLp0ihura3R7bXz4%2Bhe8sMAAAAAAEMAADLp0ihura3R7bXz4%2Bhe8sMAAGb5veBAAABEgAQAEYl0%2FRJe7tDm5w%2BaJRxSTI%3D&X-OWA-CANARY=muepgGhOXk69yRxk_JMOT6CEDtcFZNQYoPbhApaVq7r2k9CLzLQupvX7CF0foCkMx4k9seBnypc.&isImagePreview=True
While searching the MET for romantic paintings this was one that stood out to me most. It’s a french painting named “Springtime” and the artist is Pierre-Auguste Cot. It’s dated back to 1873. I was drawn to this painting because of the feelings it exudes. The man and the woman can’t seem to take their eyes off of each other and in return, you can’t seem to take your eyes off of them. In addition the nature, or where the couple are set in the painting is very beautiful and feels romantic. I’m not familiar with museums and observing pieces of art so I thought this would be a little challenging for me, but this painting made it easier. I also really like how they’re both sitting on the swing together. It almost makes the viewers of the painting idealize the couple because of how joyful and how in love they appear to be. Something else that I noticed when I first saw the painting was how the painter only made the woman’s face visible for people to see, considering the man’s face isn’t forward. The way she’s looking at the man and the way she’s positioned says a lot about how she feels. Also, the white dress she’s wearing makes her seem angel-like, especially with the way it’s painted and how it falls off of her and the swing. And because the painter cut it off, there’s no telling what the swing is hanging from, so it’s as if the swing is hanging from the heavens, thus solidifying the idea that she’s angel-like. All in all, the paintings gives off peaceful vibes because of it’s effortless beauty, and just seemed romantic to me.
March 5, 2017 at 4:55 pm
Painting: http://imgur.com/a/osmw1
The painting I chose is The Sea by Gustave Courbet. When I first saw this painting in the Met, I had so much feelings about it. At the beginning, I noticed that the color of sky is getting darker from sky blue to grey color and then black color. Also, the waves are not in peace. They seem very dangerous. I feel like the weather is going to change all of the sudden, there might be a storm is coming unexpectedly. Then, I found the most interesting in this painting. I saw there is a small boat in the middle of the painting which is between the dark sky and the dangerous waves. At this time, I started to feel nervous because it seems that the boat is going to experience a terrible and unexpected storm very soon. I was asking myself that, “Is this boat going to further bravely or going back to the land? How will the person in boat feel? Are they able to get through this difficulty?” In our class, we discuss that in Romanticism, nature represents the emotion and the feeling of horror. In this painting, I really feel the horror and the uneasy emotion. It made me so stress and nervous. I even started to worry about the fate of the small boat.
March 5, 2017 at 5:32 pm
Odalisque en Grisaille from the workshop of Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres is a representation of a woman, but is anatomically incorrect. The woman’s back is turned, and she looks over her shoulder into the eyes of the viewer. The eye is drawn to her face, but we can tell that her body is not properly proportioned: her lower back is extended far too long, which makes a curve, and her left leg is at an awkward angle. She is inaccurately represented in the name of romanticization, as her torso is impossibly long. The female body is idealized, to the point where this is an impossible representation of any woman. This is connected to Werther’s idealization of Charlotte, in whom he sees no flaws whatsoever. Werther has made Charlotte into his idea of a perfect being, which of course she could not live up to. But in Werther’s image, Charlotte has been similarly morphed and has a haze of perfection, covering any realistic image of a human being. The artist, Ingres, has more of an interest in the sensuality of the figure than creating an accurate representation of a woman. Werther is exactly the same, as he so enjoys the idea of being deeply and overwhelmingly in love with a woman that he has thought of her as perfect and unattainable. The woman in the painting engages the viewer with her gaze, but there remains a kind of distance, which is also reflected in Werther’s relationship with Charlotte. She almost humors him, keeping him around and spending time with him (she must know he is desperately in love with her) but she is married and there is a line which she doesn’t cross.
March 5, 2017 at 5:44 pm
The painting “the glorification of the barbaro family” by Giovani Battista” was done in 1750. Although 50 years before the official start of the “romantic period” but art is interpreted and this painting has many of the dame details and aspects you would fine in a panting from the specific “romantic period”. something about this painting immediately drew my attention as everything in the picture is just so completely overwhelming and over the top. This signing depicts the barb family on a chariot with the main character being “valor” and with him a Lion and a olive branch. the cloud that carries these characters are high up over looking whats beneath them, clearing the way for the family to fully oversee anything that happens under them. The clouds are clear and blue behind them , but in front red dark clads cover two men as if they are about to be saved by this chariot and lion. The two men in the bottom left of the picture are depicted to be loyalty and prudence holding a snake and a statue of minevera the greek goddess of arts and trades. This entire picture its overwhglimg and you feel as if this family is above the gods and goddess themselves as they are clearing the red skies, to them replace with the clear blue skies provided by such an important family. With minevrea, loyalty, prudence, and even a snake which represents sin, under them. As this picture again is not precisely in the romantic period, but it is no doubt alluding to some of the very same thing painting in the romantic period exhibit.https://outlook.office.com/owa/service.svc/s/GetFileAttachment?id=AAMkADZmYWI1ZWE0LTQwZDMtNGE4My1hMWM5LTRmMGRkZjlkODBmOQBGAAAAAAB2dttSZ%2BhAT64U2AF9NgIUBwAVx4eJf5t6T75NvaIW1nyBAAAAAAEMAAAVx4eJf5t6T75NvaIW1nyBAAAeNqRZAAABEgAQAGErG2dow2BNoTUcHrRCdRI%3D&X-OWA-CANARY=Fb9RfHsHZU-LGttCYREVvLAEc30RZNQYBcIQdaskc7XpnGIZHW97ShniMuwesDPHTZl_NkGDG5A.&isImagePreview=True
March 5, 2017 at 6:02 pm
1. The Way by Zack Hemsey
Werther would send this song to Charlotte due to the feelings one would receive after listening to this song. This song deeply conveys a sense of sadness and endless sorrow to the listener. The song starts off in a a silent mode but gradually intensifies over time. Just like how Werther stated in Book One, May 13, “You ask me whether you should send me my books. –My dear, for God’s sake, I beg you, keep them away from me!”, this song presents a similar feeling of agony and bitterness.
2. Mono No Aware by Hammock
This song gives the listener a persistent and similar tone throughout its entirety thus a uniform and concentrated message is conveyed. It sounds as if some sort of stunning echo is being repeatedly played out. In this manner, one can make an association between this song and Werther’s inner feelings. Werther, as a stubborn and determined individual whose pursuit for love does not fade at all despite all the obstacles he’s facing, can be think of as the same voice that is presented in this song. For example, in Book Two, December 14, “Isn’t my love for her the most sacred, chaste, brotherly love?” portrays just how consistent and unchanging Werther is in terms of how he pursues for his loved one.
3. Waiting Between Worlds by Zack Hemsey
This song, unlike the others, presents a strong and bold statement to the listener. It is relatively louder than the other songs in terms of volume and pitch thus conveys an intense and unrelenting message to the listener. It is related to Werther’s terrible experiences in terms of how he has been tormenting himself between continuing to love Charlotte and facing the fact that Charlotte is already married to another man. The quote “Every day I succumb to temptation” from Book One, July 26 shows just how much struggles and hardship Werther has been going through internally.
4. Your Silence is The Loudest Sound by Last Days
This song conveys a peaceful and serene tone compared to the other songs. It is lower in pitch and volume compare to previous songs but carries a deeper meaning. Despite the silent impression it initially gives to listeners, this song is actually more meaningful and persuasive than the louder ones. It is similar to how Werther is feeling whenever he writes to Charlotte due to uncontrollable passions. For instance, in Book One, January 20, “How parched my senses are becoming” exemplifies how Werther’s seemingly calm appearance fails to hide his actual feelings and urges.
5. Love and Loss by Mattia Cupelli
This love song conveys a somewhat sorrowful and somewhat pleasant feeling to the audience. Unlike the gloomy and sad songs, this song actual presents a sense of hope and happiness. It makes the listener somewhat relieved and cheered up after witnessing Werther’s misfortunes. It is also similar to how Werther has always fantasied about a positive future between him and Charlotte.
6. Ten Thousand Years Won’t Save Your Life by Hammock
This song gives the audience a sense of endless grief and sorrow as if all hope is lost. The song starts off low but progressively intensifies until it reaches a breaking point. Just like how Werther’s longing for Charlotte does not fade away and gradually goes further and deeper, so is this song. For instance, “I could not resist, I had to go and see her” from Book One, June 16 presents how much care and attention Werther has for Charlotte.
7. Cold by Jorge Mendez
This song conveys a sense of depression and internal struggle. It is light toned but nonetheless gives a powerful impression to the listeners. It is a reflection of Werther’s inner struggles and conflicts as he finds himself in a unfavorable situation. This song is similar to the quote “”As I came in, I was overcome with your image, the memory of you, oh Lotte!” from Book One, January 20.
8. Isolation by Sad Piano Music
This song gives the audience a feeling of sadness and isolation. It is similar to how Werther feels as he faces the fact that Charlotte and Albert are already married and there is nothing he can do about it. For example, “He means well by me” from July 30 shows how Werther is aware of the dilemma he is in. He cannot let go of his inner desires but neither can he change the fact that his loved one is already married to another kind man.
9. Gone by Tom Ed
This song presents a calm and soothing tone to the listener as it goes between calmness and sadness back and forth. It shifts the atmosphere from calmness to loneliness. In a way it is similar to Werther’s experiences as he gradually went from being saddened to disappointed and eventually to depressed. For example, the quote “Dear Wilhelm, I am in the state that must have been experienced by those unfortunate creatures who were thought to be ridden by an evil demon” illustrates just how much negative impacts that the sadness has bring him.
10. Inception by Michael Ortega
This song gives the audience a sense of endless sorrow and lack of choice. As Werther insists on his pursuit for Charlotte, he inevitably puts himself in an unfavorable position where nothing can be done to make his conditions better. Unless he gives up his inner desires, he would have to live with the fact that Charlotte and Albert are already married. The song portrays this situation through its twist of conflicting sounds back and forth. To further highlight this point, the quote “Several of the surviving letters are the strongest testimonies to his confusion and passion, his restless doing and striving, and his weariness with life” from Book One portrays the dilemma Werther is going through.
March 5, 2017 at 6:19 pm
1) Satisfied – Renée Elise Goldsberry (from the “Hamilton” Cast Album)
“The conversation lasted two minutes, maybe three minutes / everything we said in total agreement / it’s a bit of a dream, a bit of a dance.”
There are many parallels between Werther’s enamor with Charlotte and this song, but the first time I made the connection was on page 39. He says in his letter “I got out of the carriage as if in a dream” after listening to Charlotte speak so passionately about her love for dancing and reading. Instantly, I thought of a lyrics from this song Both the song and the story have two people meeting at a party for the first time and instantly connecting both romantically and intellectually. Both also have characters that are painfully aware that they will likely not get their happy ending (Werther, because Charlotte is already engaged, and Angelica because of the difference in social status between her and Alexander and because she knows her sister Eliza is infatuated with him.) It’s a song that perfectly captures the magic of connecting with someone and the bitterness of knowing it can’t become anything more.
2) (They Long to Be) Close To You – The Carpenters
“On the day that you were born / the angels got together / and decided to create a dream come true.”
I feel like this lyrics really captures Werther’s feelings for Charlotte. That whimsical, starry-eyed feeling when you’re enchanted by someone and every thing that they do or say makes them even more perfect in your eyes. “An angel —bah! Everyone says that about his beloved…and yet I am quite unable to tell you how perfect she is[.]” (pg. 34) The simplicity and longing of the song really resonates with Werther’s feeling of inability to fully capture how amazing this person is. It’s interesting to see that his putting Charlotte on such a pedestal stay true until the end. Even at his death, he continues to sing her praises and finds a way for them to be together forever. “These are the clothes I want to be buried in…you have touched them, sanctified them[.] Oh, how I attached myself to you from the first instant could not leaqve you!” (pg. 148) I believe Werther felt that if they were connected in such a way with the permanence of death and being buried, it would form an unbroken bond, something stronger than anything any living person could establish.
3) We’ve Only Just Begun – The Carpenters
“And when the evening comes, we smile / so much of life ahead / we’ll find a place where there’s room to grow”
The inclusion of this song is based mostly on fantasies of what could’ve been. Werther’s letter about his first night wth Charlotte is so filled with joy and a dream-like captivation. Wth her fiancé out of town (and Werther having not met the man) that night gave them the opportunity to ignore the realities of their lives for a short time, a trance that’s faintly broken when Werther asks her about Albert. “I saw signs of pensiveness on her forehead…now that was not news to me…and yet it was entirely new because I had not yet thought of it in connection wth the woman[.]” (pg. 41) Although Charlotte was set to start a life with Albert, I believe Werther could see themselves carving out a place for the two of them in the world, even if it’s not in the way he’d want.
4) I Will Wait For You – Connie Francis
“The clock will tick the hours one by one / and then the time will come when all the waiting’s done / the time when you return and find me here and run / straight into my waiting arms”
This song is so poignant in relation to the story, not only because of the nature of their relationship, but also because of how Werther died. He shot himself at approximately midnight, but didn’t die for another 12 hours. In all the time, he hung on by a thread, almost as if he couldn’t bring himself to let go quite yet. However, Charlotte never came to visit or say goodbye, most likely due to grief. In my mind, Werther would’ve lived wth that hope that at some point in the afterlife. On page 148, he says “my soul hovers over the casket” to deter anyone from going through his pockets after he is buried. This quick mention of not fully departing the mortal world leads me to believe that Werther may have felt that there was always a chance for them, even if it wasn’t in this life.
5) Without You – Mariah Carey (originally by Badfinger)
“I can’t live / if living is without you / I can’t give / I can’t give anymore”
As an iconic ballad, “Without You” showcases true yearning and heartache. Werther’s pain over the dismantling of his relationship with Charlotte eventually became too much to bear. At the same time, he couldn’t bring himself to harm neither her nor Albert, resolve the young servant he’d met earlier in the story didn’t have. “he believed that he had destroyed the beautiful relationship between Albert and his wife, he reproached himself for this[.]” (pg 117) And while Werther’s anger did become more directed at Albert, in the end he internalized it and punished himself for it, and in a sick way, gave Charlotte and Albert reprieve.
6) Careless Whisper – George Michael
“We could have been so good together / we could have lived this dance forever”
“So I’m never gonna dance again / the way I danced with you”
Although this song is primarily about a cheating partner, it goes well with their first meeting. They spent so much of that first night dancing and getting to know one another. And their chemistry made Werther feel no one else as a partner could compete. “Never have I danced so effortlessly…I vowed to myself that…[she] should never waltz with anyone but me, even if it were to cost me my life.” (pg. 40) For Werther to not only forgo Charlotte as a partner, but later on as a friend, left him painfully hollow. He felt that he’d never find that perfect match, both on and off the dance floor, again. Werther believed deep down that he would never love anyone else the way he loved Charlotte. The wistfulness of the song is so easily found in his letters.
7) Yellow – Coldplay
“I swam across / I jumped across for you / oh, what a thing to do / cause you were all yellow”
There’s a saying that when someone is completely infatuated, they’ll look at the other person as if they hung the moon and the stars. Werther revered Charlotte with that level of intensity and his passion ultimately led to his demise. In the end, he felt that he’d given up his entire being for her, jumping to the “other side” with no possibility of return. I also made the connection based on the idea of a yellow sky that sometimes appears before a storm; it’s that odd color and feeling where it’s peaceful, but still somewhat unsettling. The uncertainty of whether a storm will actually occur of if the clouds will part to reveal blue sky again. One could say that there’s a similar feeling that comes before death. The uncertainty of whether something better will be on the other side of that you will fade into eternal darkness.
8) Somewhere Only We Know – Lily Allen (originally by Keane)
“I came across a fallen tree / I felt the branches of it looking at me / Is this the place we used to love / Is this the place that I’ve been dreaming of”
In his first few letters, Werther gushes about his love for the nature he’s surrounded by and the peace it brings him. “The town itself is unpleasant; by contrast, it is surrounded by inexpressible natural beauty.” (pg. 22) In his suicide note, he also asks that he be buried by “two linden trees [that] stand in the churchyard, in the rear corner near the field[.]” (pg. 147) There’s also the night of the ball where he and Charlotte watched the thunderstorm after a night of dancing and games. “We walked over to the window. Thunder rumbled in the distance, a splendid rain was falling on the land…she looked up at the sky and at me, I could see the tears in her eyes[.]” (pg. 43) In this scene, they both silently acknowledge that their love will never fully blossom into something more because of the social restrictions surrounding them. There’s constant links between nature and escapism and the serenity that can be found amongst the Earth’s wonders.
9) Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
“I want to walk with you / On a cloudy day / In field where grass grows knee-high / So won’t you try to come”
This is another song that ties into that theme of escaping reality to be with one’s lover. It’s reminiscent of the image of a couple running through a field of flowers, with not a care or worry in the world. While they’re in the carriage, one of the women mentions the distant clouds, “…the women expressed concern about a thunderstorm that seemed to be gathering…I duper theirs fears…although I too was beginning to suspect that our party would suffer a blow.” (pg. 36) I think the timing of this is incredibly significant; when a storm is distant enough, there’s room to skepticism. It’s much easier to ignore a somewhat gray sky and pretend it isn’t there. It’s when the rain starts and the lightning flashes that the room for denial is quickly destroyed, which explains the stark moment of acceptance Werther and Charlotte have on page 43. Another part of the song says “And I want to wake up with the rain / Falling on a tin roof / While I’m safe there in your arms” which can imply that by the time the storm strikes, they are already safely tucked away with each other, protected; that is not something Werther and Charlotte could find.
10) Never Ending – Rihanna
“It’s pulling me apart this time / Everything is never ending / Slipped into a peril that / I’ll never understand”
The Editors Note talks about Werther’s slip into a deep depression after a lull in contact wth Charlotte. He’s stated as having a “cheerless mood” living in “perpetual strife” with a “dull weight pressed on his soul” (pg. 117) It shows that while he could possibly live with knowing Charlotte would never be his, the pain of losing what friendship they had was too much to bear. It had broken him beyond repair and left him in eternal heartache that he couldn’t mend enough to go on any further.
March 5, 2017 at 6:52 pm
The picture I’m going to write about is called “A Shipwreck in Stormy Seas” by Joseph Vernet. I chose this painting not accidentally. At first, this picture struck in the classroom while we discussed Era of Romanticism in painting. Then, when I saw it live in the Met I realized that Vernet’s painting very accurately characterizes my temperament. By my nature I’m very impulsive person. So, when something goes wrong I start to rage like waves in the sea. As tension increases, everything around changes; warm colors turn into dark and cold ones as well as joy become madness. My feelings take over my mind and there no any limits anymore. I, as a storm on the ship, I pull everything off my path.
Goethe’s character Werther, in my opinion, is another example of Vernet’s “storm and onslaught”. He is passionate and sensitive with rebellious nature. He worships nature, interested in ancient literature is full of vitality, but at the same time reader feels his dissatisfaction with life. At the beginning of the book Werther is able to suppress a gloomy mood, he revels in the beauty of nature, the grandeur of the universe as well as vibrantly and enthusiastically depicts Lotte, who fell in love with. He knows that she is engaged but ignores this fact. Realizing the hopelessness of his love, he differently perceives the world; If at first, in the first weeks of meeting with Lotte, he read Homer, soon carried away by gloomy pages of Ossian’s poems. His despair reaches the point that he committed suicide, embodying the shipwreck.
I’m very captivated by the universality of Vernet’s work. I believe, that everyone at least once experienced this “storm” of feelings.
March 6, 2017 at 12:57 am
1) Smash Into You by Beyonce
And I’m soaked in your love
And love was right in my path, in my grasp
And me and you belong
This song I believe best describes the beginning stage of Werther-Lotte love story. Werther expresses his interest with Lotte when he states, “Never in my life have I seen urgent desire and hot, ardent craving in such purity; indeed I can say, purity such as I have never conceived or dreamed of” (Goethe 34). I just think he’s a little delusional at first, considering that he literally just met her not that long ago in the story. Love at first sight at its finest!
2) Jessie’s Girl by Rick Springfield
You know I wish that I had Jessie’s girl
I wish that I had Jessie’s girl
Where can I find a woman like that?
Werther, of course, becomes jealous of Albert, Lotte’s fiancee. This song definitely describes the jealousy he feels towards Albert so he thinks it’s a good idea to just keep his feelings aside for now. He states, “It is better for me to see her through the eyes of her lover; it may be that in my own eyes she would not appear as she stands before me now, and why should I spoil this beautiful image” (Goethe 34)? I think that he believes in the saying “Good things come to those who wait” which represents his patience and hopefulness that someday, she will be his.
3) Make You Feel My Love by Adele
I know you haven’t made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I’ve known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong
I can definitely hear this song playing when Werther professes his love to Lotte. “I made an effort to conceal my emotions at these words…I was beside myself and said everything I had to say” (Goethe 38). Werther still doesn’t know about Albert at this moment (not like it’s going to matter…). This song I believe is perfect because they haven’t really gotten to know each other. However, Werther already promises Lotte a love that she’ll never forget and that he belongs to her at that moment.
4) Feel No Ways by Drake
I should be downtown, whipping on the way to you
You got something that belongs to me
Your body language says it all
Despite the things you said to me
Who is it that’s got you all gassed up?
Changing your opinion on me
I was only gone for the last few months
But you don’t have the time to wait on me
Werther, already confused, is heartbroken that Lotte decides to be with Albert. This song mirrors his own conflicted response to Lotte. The song starts with him sounding very certain that Lotte feels the same way. Then, all of a sudden, she marries Albert, questioning what he has done wrong.
5) As You Are by The Weekend
Even though you break my heart
Even through you break my heart, baby
I know what we are, our love’s too young
Yeah, show me your broken heart and all your scars
Baby I’ll take, I’ll take, I’ll take, I’ll take you as you are
I believe that Werther forgives and accepts Lotte even if she decides to marry Albert. And to be completely honest, this story I still hear in our generation. It reminds me that love can blind you of the reality. I think Werther isn’t really in love with Lotte but he’s in love with the idea of being in love, which we totally can relate to nowadays. “I have to love him for the regard he shows her” (Goethe 58). It’s definitely safe to say that even if he is devastated, he is happy that someone as decent as Albert shows Lotte that she deserves someone that will make him happy.
6) Redemption by Drake
I know you’re seein’ someone that loves you
And I don’t want you to see no one else
I don’t want you here with no one else
I don’t wanna do this with no one else
When Lotte’s father becomes ill, Werther comes to her side to the rescue and he feels that his presence is not wanted. Albert is starting to get on his nerves. “He states, “I know it well, I feel it, he is not glad to see me, he wants me to go away, my presence is a burden to him” (Goethe 118). He hates the fact that Lotte is engaged to someone else and he is already starting to feel the tension between him and Albert. However, I think he decides to stick around because he’s irrevocably in love with her and he’d rather have her like this than not to be able to have any contact with her.
7) Hotline Bling by Drake
You used to call me on my cell phone
Late night when you need my love
Call me on my cell phone
Late night when you need my love
This song symbolizes Werther’s confusion stating, “Isn’t my love for her the most sacred, chaste, brotherly love? Has my soul ever felt a punishable desire?” (Goethe 123) I want to make a connection between Werther and how relationships are nowadays. At times, we meet people who will “lead us on” and make us feel special and just vanish. I believe that’s what Werther is feeling exactly. He feels abandoned and he doesn’t know how to act and think.
8) Lips of an Angel by Hinder
Well, my girl’s in the next room
Sometimes I wish she was you
I guess we never really moved on
It’s really good to hear your voice saying my name
It sounds so sweet
Coming from the lips of an angel
Hearing those words it makes me weak
And I never wanna say goodbye
But girl you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel
I now want to write about Lotte’s point of view. I think she leads Werther on because maybe she’s not really as convinced to marry Albert so she decides to test the water with Werther. She sees Werther as kind of an escape if ever things go south with Albert. Then, in the end, I think she just feels like Werther fell too fast for her, literally dropping anything he’s doing to be able to see her, which to be honest, in my opinion, is a clingy type which could be a deal breaker for some people.
March 6, 2017 at 9:37 am
Common themes in Romanticism were on the rise in Europe during the 19th century in part as a response to the Enlightenment and the aftermath of the French Revolution. These themes are evident in literature from this era while also in paintings from this time. The piece of Romanticism art that I chose from the MET was “Alfred Dedreux as a Child” by Théodore Gericault painted around 1810-1860. When I found this painting in the small corner of a wall at the MET, after my feeling of excitement that I found the painting left, I just started to feel an overwhelming sense of uneasy. This could be of the painting’s subject of an eerie little girl just sitting on a cliff staring at your soul while a storm is to come. I could relate this back to the feeling of Kant’s ‘sublime” of the unknown because when looking at this painting it feels like this girl knows something bad that is going to happen that you don’t know. Unlike other paintings of this time “Alfred Dedreux” does not need to rely on a huge canvas size to convey the feeling of being overwhelmed, but instead does so by invoking an overwhelming feeling of the unknown and fear. The color scheme of the painting also plays a part in this by being very much dull and dark which adds on more to the eerie/uncanny factor. This painting won’t be one I would purchase and proudly hang anywhere in my house. Painting from the Romanticism period can convey raw emotion much better than the motifs and tropes found during of literature of that time. Because it’s more personal, there is no underline middle man of theme and plot in between the work and reader/viewer.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/41.17/