Sturm and Drang, 2

The phrase Sturm and Drang is often translated in English as Storm and Stress. What it is trying to convey? One individual explained it this way: The protagonist (a leading or principal figure or the main character in a drama or other literary work) in a typical Sturm und Drang stage work, poem, or novel is driven to action—often violent action—not by pursuit of noble means nor by true motives, but by revenge and greed. It reminds me of key characteristics of people who have low levels of emotional intelligence and exhibit that in behaviors such as: taking things personally, jumping to conclusions, overreacting, or getting very upset over a relatively small incident, using it as a vehicle to release their often vitriolic emotions about a different incident altogether, one they choose not to address openly. Often the reason is never the reason in these types of emotional conflagrations. So what types of “art” might be categorized as Sturm and Drang? Part 3 tomorrow.