The sorrows of Werter. A German story. ... Volume 1 of 2

The letter-writing style makes the emotions feel so immediate and personal. I'm curious what Goethe hoped to achieve with this choice.

His intense feelings felt so raw but also dangerously consumed by longing. How did others interpret his emotional state?

Knowing Goethe's background, I wonder how much of his own life seeped into this deeply personal story.