CHAPTER III.

Goethe takes the oath as an advocate and citizen of Frankfort; holds a Shakespeare festival; reads the autobiography of Goetz von Berlichingen; writes the drama, “Geschichte Gottfriedens von Berlichingen”; his friendship with Merck; writes criticism for the “Frankfurter Gelehrten Anzeigen”; the “Wanderers Sturmlied” and the “Wanderer”; in May, 1772, goes to practise at the imperial chamber at Wetzlar; his love for Charlotte Buff; saves himself by flight from Wetzlar; visits Frau von Laroche; returns to Frankfort in September, 1772; recasts his drama about Goetz von Berlichingen; defects and great qualities of “Goetz”; “Goetz” published in summer of 1773; enthusiastically received; Goethe’s depression, and its causes; Maximiliane Brentano; origin of “Die Leiden des jungen Werthers”; the story of “Werther”; its relation to the dominant mood of the age, and to Goethe’s own experience; character of Lotte and Albert; style of “Werther”; descriptions of nature; profound impression produced by the book; its effect on the mind of Lotte’s husband; Nicolai’s parody of “Werther,” and Goethe’s response; “Clavigo”; “Stella”; “Erwin und Elmire,” and “Claudine von Villa Bella”; “Götter, Helden, and Wieland”; poetic fragments 47