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English Journal #3 Throughout the last reading I was able to further understand how the death of Lotte’s mother affected Lotte herself. Albert tells Werther about the “new spirit” which “animated”(p.55) Lotte after the passing of her mother. Previously in the novel it was never entirely made clear how the death affected her, for she never seemed to show any emotion that wasn’t carefree and lighthearted. Lotte admits that whenever she feels as though “something irritates me and is about to make me depressed, I jump up and sing a few dance tunes up and down the garden, and immediately the mood is gone”(p.38). It seemed to me that Lotte had successfully hidden all her feelings about the loss of her mother and had put the tragic event behind her. However, since the latest reading, I have come to believe that Lotte repressed her emotions about the death and is being emotionally restricted. The fact that Lotte seemed ‘possessed’ by a “new spirit”(p.55) is not surprising. For many people who have to deal with such a loss, assuming new characteristics is the easiest thing to do. If one wishes to leave the past behind completely, one must also leave oneself behind and become someone who does not need to remember their suffering and loss. Lotte promised her mother that she would take care of the children and feel for her father the same “loyalty and obedience of a wife”(p.74). Essentially Lotte spiritually transforms into her mother. She shed her previous persona and took on her mother’s role in her family. Even though she seemingly transforms into a new person, some old characteristics undergo the transformation with her. Albert says that Lotte kept her “cheerfulness and lightness of heart” (p.55) after the death and she keeps it to this day.
Approximate Word count = 1153
Approximate Pages = 4.6
(250 words per page double spaced)
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