The Sorrows of Young Werther

The letters that begin Book 2 recount Werther’s employment with the ambassador and his impressions of his new milieu. The October 20 letter contains resolutions to work diligently and to avoid as much as possible making comparisons with other people. By November, he can report that his life is “tolerable,” owing largely to a friendship with Count C. Werther describes him as possessing intellectual depth while also being capable of warm affection. He values the Count’s kindness. However, this connection to the Count also causes friction as an assistant to the ambassador. By Christmas Eve, Werther is openly frustrated with the ambassador’s pedantic nature. In turn, he accuses the ambassador of being overly critical of Count C. because the Count prefers Werther’s company to that of his employer. He blames Wilhelm for placing him in such an artificial position of “glittering misery” and expresses disdain for the societal emphasis on distinctions of rank. Nevertheless, he also reports his growing closeness to one Miss von B., an aristocratic and reasonably “natural” young woman. In a short letter a week into the new year, Werther criticizes those who dedicate their lives to social advancement and challenges the notion that one’s place in society determines true greatness.