Unrequited Love And Gestures Of Consecration Essay — страница 2

she needed to prove by her actions her feelings were worthy of her husband?s respect.? (Goethe, 114) Lotte ultimately felt that she had to prove her devotion and innocence to her husband, the primary male figure in her life, by distancing herself from Werther. It was at this point that Werther felt that he could no longer bear the sorrows of being without Lotte and no longer intended to live. One night when Albert was away, Werther went to Lotte?s home. Werther was irritated and broken-hearted, and Lotte was clearly frightened by his behavior. After Werther seized Lotte in a wild embrace, she ran away and locked herself in her room. It was at this point that Werther would not see Lotte again. Werther, the lover has attempted to seize his beloved, but was interrupted by Lotte?s

desire to be true to her husband, the primary male figure in her life. The next day, Werther sent a servant to Albert and asked for a loan of his pistols for an ?unexpected journey.? This journey that Werther intended to take was one of death, which seemed like the only escape from his relentless love and admiration for Lotte. Werther then decided to commit the ultimate act of devotion for Lotte, he would kill himself to preserve her in his mind, and to sanctify his love for her. With the shot of pistol, Werther wounded himself so severely that he would die the next day, a copy of Emilia Galotti was found open on his desk. Werther?s suicide was the ultimate gesture of consecration for Lotte, bringing this Romantic tragedy to an end. It seems quite interesting that Werther chose

to read Emilia Galotti before he committed suicide. It can be deduced that this text was particularly close to Werther?s heart. The core elements of the Romantic tragedy are in place in this play and coincide with many of the themes in Werther?s experience. In Emilia Galotti, Prince Hettore Gonzaga, once in love with Countess Orsina, unhappily feel in love with Emilia Galotti after seeing a portrait of her. Just as Werther fell in love with Lotte, the prince fell in love with Emilia at first sight. The fact that the prince fell in love with a portrait also connects the two story lines, for Werther painted portraits of Lotte. Additionally, the idea of falling in love with a portrait suggests some sort of feminine ideal. While speaking about Emilia to Marinelli, the Prince finds

out that Emilia is engaged to Count Appiani. Just as Werther could not accept the fact that Lotte was engaged to another man, the prince feels an utter sense of desperation and urgency. ?What?s wrong with me? Well now, I love her; I worship her. For all I care, you can all know it!? (Lessing, 14) Marinelli proposed that the Prince should send Count Appiani on a mission, so that he could confront Emilia alone and eventually have her for himself. The prince would take advantage of the absence of Appiani and pursued her during mass. After the prince confronted Emilia, she frantically went back to her mother and reported what had transpired. ?Oh, if lonely loud thunder had kept me from hearing more! It spoke of beauty, of love- if it did even that- would decide its unhappiness

forever. It implored me- I had to hear all of this.? (Lessing, 25) The prince was totally captivated with Emilia, he dreamed of having her as his own, and motivated by lechery, he comprised a plan to abduct her and to kill Count Appiani. If Werther had his way, there is no question that he did not have a conscious or unconscious wish that Albert would go away and never return. When Appiani rejected the prince?s proposal to send him away on his wedding day, he died at the hands of the prince?s men. Just as Lotte loved another and did not know how to deal with Werther?s love, Emilia was extremely distraught over her predicament with the prince. Werther related to the Prince?s love for Emilia, as well as the characteristics that made Emilia so attractive to the prince. Although

there are many similarities between Emilia and Lotte, Emilia was depicted as being a weaker creature. These two women can be considered to be the representation of the Romantic ideal for women. Both women had the qualities of intelligence and innocence, sought protection from a principal male figure, were educated, and were of middle class to upper class background. The prince successfully abducted Emilia on the charade that she is being rescued from bandits. During this time, Countess Orsina, enraged, tells Odoardo of the prince?s guilt, and gives him a dagger. It is with this dagger that Emilia is later killed by. Countess Orsina?s jealousy can be compared to Werther?s overwhelming jealousy of Albert. Odoardo is finally able to see his daughter, and to protect her innocence, he