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Time:
1780s
Place:
Wetzlar, near Frankfurt,
ACT
I
Though
it is July, the widowed Bailiff teaches his younger
children a Christmas carol in the garden of their house.
Their progress is watched with amusement by two neighbors,
Schmidt and Johann. They ask for Charlotte, the eldest
daughter, who is engaged to Albert. In his absence,
the Bailiff tells them, she will be escorted to the
local ball that night by a young visiting poet, Werther,
whom they find uncongenial. As the friends go off to
supper and the Bailiff goes into the house, Werther
arrives. He rhapsodizes on the beauty of the evening
and watches unseen as Charlotte cuts bread and butter
for the children's supper. When the party has left for
the ball and the Bailiff has gone to join his friends
at the tavern, Albert returns unexpectedly. Disappointed
at not finding Charlotte, he promises her sister Sophie
he will return in the morning. As the moon rises, Werther
and Charlotte return. He has fallen in love with her,
but his declaration is cut short when the Bailiff passes
by, observing that Albert has returned. Despite his
despair, Werther urges Charlotte not to break her promise
to marry Albert.
ACT
II
Three
months later, Charlotte and Albert, now married, walk
contentedly across the town square on their way to church,
followed by Werther. Albert tries to comfort the youth,
and Sophie also attempts to cheer him up, but when Charlotte
comes out of the church, he speaks of their first meeting;
disturbed, she tells him he must leave Wetzlar until
Christmas. Werther contemplates suicide, and when Sophie
interrupts him, he rushes away. As Charlotte consoles
the tearful girl, Albert realizes that Werther must
be in love with his wife.
ACT
III
Alone
at home on Christmas Eve, Charlotte rereads the dejected
letters written to her by Werther. While she prays for
strength, he suddenly appears. Charlotte tries to remain
calm and asks him to read to her from his translation
of Ossian. Werther chooses a passage where the poet
foresees his own death, and when Charlotte begs him
to stop, he realizes she returns his love. But she runs
from his embrace with a final farewell, and Werther
leaves, resolved to die. Albert enters, surprised to
find Charlotte distraught, and when a message arrives
from Werther asking to borrow Albert's pistols, her
reaction convinces him of her love for Werther. He makes
her give the pistols to the servant herself, but when
Albert has gone she hurries off, praying she may reach
Werther in time.
ACT
IV
Charlotte
arrives at Werther's quarters to find him mortally wounded.
She declares her love, and he begs forgiveness. As he
dies, the voices of the children outside are heard singing
their Christmas carol.
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