The Sorrows of Young Werther

Werner's problem is overthinking.... he is unable to face reality, and he has a tendency to overreact—all indications of emotional problems. Rather than make a serious attempt to help himself out of the doldrums, Werther claims to treat his heart like a "sick child" giving it whatever it wants. He fails to address his malady by presenting a facade—his "cure" lies in bending to the ebb and flow of his passion (sickness) rather than taking rational steps towards true recovery.

Werther's mental and emotional states are always at the forefront of this story. As is common with depressed persons, Wilhelm admits that he is only happy when he is asleep. Werther can be exuberant and joyous in one instance while in the next he feels doomed and ready to shoot himself. His roller coaster moods and overreaction to Lotte's every word and movement point to his questionable mental state.

In a discussion with Albert, Werther's demented way of thinking is revealed. Werther poses that suicide based on passion can be an act of greatness. Werther feels that his best quality is his "raging passion." Werther's emotional state reaches its nadir when he can neither stand life with or without Lotte. As his decline continues, Werther develops a fascination with death. He is drawn to Ossian poetry which often depicts death and graves. Werther envies an insane man because the poor soul is not aware of his tragic condition, unlike Werther, who is keenly aware of his despair. Werther poses the question: who is really the mad man?