16 Aug 2022

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“The Sorrows of Young Werther Letter of May 26”: how art is influenced by nature

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Academic level: College

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The author encourages the reader to understand that art is influenced by nature. Werther begins the letter by describing the picturesque town of Wahlheim, which is an hour his new home. He stated that he has found a new place which he describes as attractive ( von Goethe & Ticknor, 1899 ). Werther further describes the inn he goes to take his coffee and read, which is a place that gives him many opportunities for him to engage in the drawing. He had not drawn for some time, but now nature was helping him pick back his good habit in art. At the inn, Werther felt the nature nurturing him to do great artwork. He is even inspired to sketch brothers without relying on his imagination. He sketches what he sees as it is. 

The author of “The Sorrows of Young Werther Letter of May 26” by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe focuses on the issue of art and nature. He wants artists to ignore the rules laid down by the society and focus on their art, passion, and inspiration. Society has numerous rules that keep an artist from prospering. The rules are great for the young people who are saving money, but they can do damage by hindering the geniuses, love, and beauty. Outside the inn, Werther sees a young boy about four years of age holding a six-month boy between the legs and against his chest so that the four-year-old makes some sought of an armchair for the six months old baby ( von Goethe & Ticknor, 1899 ). The scene pleased Werther and he decided to sketch this brotherly pose. He indicates that due to nature’s force, he was able to draw everything harmoniously without adding anything from his imagination. As such the author resolved that nature was inspirational without having to follow the societal rules. 

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Werther is clearly advocating for art as a product of emotion, which means that an artist has to be emotionally connected to something for them to produce impeccable work. He wants the reader to understand that he came out of the intellectual life into an emotional life in a peaceful place for his artistic instincts to be perfected. He believes that nature helped him regain his lost emotional skills and passion that helped him sketch an at without adding any unnecessary thing. 

When Werther goes to Wahlheim, he hopes to find a place that his artwork will coexist with nature and a place where he can experience the beauty of nature. Werther uses this letter as a testament to the young artists who believe that they are the only ones being prepared for a larger destiny by a higher force. Werther also admits that there is truth in opinion, but true beauty has a way of flowing by itself. Werther advises the young artist against observing rules, for instance when he tells the story of how the society defined love. The society will say that loving is human, but for them to experience that love, they must love as a human being should. The society will also divide up hours on how and when to spend time with your loved ones. All in all, such rules will make a person less creative as they will lose touch with their passion. 

As such, it is evident that passion is an important part of the art, but an emotional connection has to be strong for an artist to be inspired. Inspiration from simple things such as love, for instance, in this case, the brotherly love that inspires Werther to draw the two young boys at the inn. Nature is peaceful and this provides a good place to enhance creativity. 

My Passion for Music 

I have always had a passion for music, but various challenges have been hindering my aspirations. I started listening to music at a young age and b the 8th grade I could feel that my love for music was growing tremendously. My family was facing some difficult times and I was feeling pretty burdened by the issues. My sister was sick for almost three years and it was becoming so challenging for my parents. Between the bills and illness, I felt that our family was drifting apart. I went and talked to a counselor, who advised me to find something I loved to help me through the difficult moments. Therefore, I had one solace, which involved hiding in music and expressing my sorrows through music, as that was the only thing that would keep me from being insane. My sister pulled through the illness, which was quite a relative for all of us. While I continued to sing, I did not play any instruments at the time, but I would write good music. I loved Rock music even though I was brought up in a church setting that insisted on a certain form of music. Sometimes I would listen to some hip-hop and soulful music, but my parents insisted on gospel music. I was to later learn how to play the piano and violin. I also went for voice coaching and made some nice music for the school and church. 

Fast forward six years later, when music has become the least of my passions. I had lost touch with my love for music. I felt that focusing on my education and aspirations to become a doctor were far much important than doing music. For some reason, I thought that music would derail me from my goals. Sometimes people would ask me why I did not practice music anymore and I would bluntly reply that I was uninspired. When I said that I was uninspired, I was basically telling the truth. I did not feel connected to music anymore; I could not even make a sensible music line like I used to when I was young. I wondered why something that used to make my life worth it would elope me like that. Music was there when I needed help and peace, but now all I felt was nothing. Even the music I had written and sang in 8th grade was becoming just a memory. 

One day I received a call that one of my childhood best friends and a singing mate had died. We had not kept in touch as we should have, but we talked from time to time and I always saw her music online. I felt that she had really made use of her talent and I really admired her. Therefore, the news of her demise was devastating. She always told me to go back to music making, but every time I tried, I failed miserably. I remember one day I went back to my home town’s church and the people expected me to sing. I tried to sing as smoothly as I used, but I sounded awful, which I could tell by the looks on people’s faces. My childhood friend came and helped me out; nonetheless, I swore I was done with music, even though deep inside I still loved doing music. 

On the day of her burial, I felt suddenly inspired to write something and sing something to bid her goodbye. It was the first time since my 8th grade, that I had written something beautifully; something that helped me express my passion from deep within my body. I loved this piece of art that I had written and I was so excited to perform it at the funeral. Do not get me wrong, that a song about the demise of my friend would excite me. The sad song talked about our life together and the music that we made as well as the regrets that my inspiration would come from the death of a friend. The song was emotional and it marked the beginning of my second life with music. When I sang it, I could see people get drunk in its immense emotion or get addicted to it as if it was a drug. I have never taken drugs, but I can only imagine the addictive effects. 

Today, my passion for music has increased, but I have to take care of my education first. I feel that music is something that heals my heart through difficult times. I write music for people and sometimes play in a band. When I go home I sing in church, a place that reminds me where the passion for music developed. I aspire to continue doing music throughout my life. Music will always be a part of me. Today, the people I told about my lack of inspiration are surprised that I can practice music again. I think focusing and stressing too much about my future contributed highly to my loss of passion in music. I should break the rules given by society and enjoy my music and make people happy. 

References 

von Goethe, J. W., & Ticknor, G. (1899). The sorrows of young Werther . Publishers Plate Renting Company. 

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