Werther is confronted about his rebellion against logic many times and ends tragically; he shoots himself in the brain. Goethe thus makes the readers believe that the man who defies the traditional male authority by displaying feminine characteristics (such as sensibility) cannot find acceptance and happiness in this world. However, that does not mean that there is no happy ending for sensible men. On the contrary, Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" hero, Mr. Darcy seems to win the love of Elizabeth Bennet because he shows his vulnerable side and proves that he is not just a "man of reason" but a "man of feeling" as well. In the beginning of the novel Darcy is a coldly rational man that makes a mistake in his judgment of Jane's attachment to his friend Mr. Bingley as a consequence of relying on reason more than on emotions. In the end, however, he changes his opinion and dethrones his reason. He is rewarded because of this act- he marries Elizabeth Bennet. So in what ways is Darcy's sensibility different from Werther's? Why is Darcy rewarded for his sensibility whereas Werther is punished? The answer lies in the fact that Darcy manages to combine both masculine and feminine traits (self-discipline and emotionality) in such way that he does not lose capacity for action like Werther does. Darcy, thus, represents the reconciliation between a "man of reason" and a "man of feeling" and will serve as an example of an ideal man even after the period of Romanticism.
Both Werther and Darcy use letters to declare or explain their feelings for Lotte and Elizabeth. This epistolary element of the novel is important to consider, as letter writing was usually a form of expression related to women. Also, written word has a certain indirection to it; the fact that the person we write to cannot reply right away gives us more time to think about what we want to say.
