RECONSTRUCTING GOETHE’S PERCEPTION OF SUFFERING PAIN, OLD AGE, AND LIFE CRISIS IN MARTIN WALSER’S A MAN IN LOVE
RECONSTRUCTING GOETHE’S PERCEPTION OF SUFFERING PAIN, OLD AGE, AND LIFE CRISIS IN MARTIN WALSER’S A MAN IN LOVE

Summary/Abstract: This article analyzes Martin Walser's A Man in Love (2008), focusing on its exploration of pain, old age, relationship antagonisms, and end-life crisis. Through a close reading of the novel, this article critically evaluates whether the text can be categorized as a work centered on an end-of-life crisis. Walser depicts the suffering of the ageing Goethe and his last significant experience of love. He is not interested in a meticulous description of the historical figure of Goethe. Instead, he describes suffering and despair in all its facets. The question that arises is: How does one deal with physical decline, pain, and rejection in this phase of life? The ageing Goethe tries to shape his life again, even in his perhaps most difficult moment. Pessimistic and doubtful, he turns to his pen. Ultimately, he discovers a sense of purpose and a positive trajectory for his destiny, channelling his reflections into artistic creativity. This analysis aims to shed light on Walser's thematic exploration and contribute to the broader understanding of literature's portrayal of the human condition.

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