The Sorrows of Young Werther

by

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Lotte (Charlotte S.) Character Analysis

Lotte is Werther’s love interest, though she is engaged (and later married) to Albert. Lotte comes across as nearly flawless and angelic. After her own mother dies, she gladly accepts the burdens of mothering her siblings. She also visits Mrs. M. on her deathbed, maintains a full relationship with Albert, and still finds time to spend time with Werther. Given Werther’s narration of the events, one might wonder if Lotte isn’t toying with his affections somewhat. The Editor, however, with his unique point-of-view, shows that Lotte is just as confused and heartbroken by the situation as Werther, though she handles it more maturely than he does. Goethe based the character of Lotte on Charlotte Bluff, his friend in real life with whom he was deeply infatuated. Like Bluff, Lotte ultimately informs Werther that he must not hope for her love and their friendship dissolves.

Lotte (Charlotte S.) Quotes in The Sorrows of Young Werther

The The Sorrows of Young Werther quotes below are all either spoken by Lotte (Charlotte S.) or refer to Lotte (Charlotte S.). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Heart vs. The Mind Theme Icon
).
Book 1: Jun 16, 1771 Quotes

When I was younger there was nothing I loved better than novels. God knows how good it felt to be able to sit in some corner on a Sunday and share with my whole heart in Miss Jenny's happiness and sorrows. Nor do I deny that that kind of writing still has its charms for me. But since I so rarely come by a book, it has to be one that is quite to my taste. And I like that author best who shows me my own world, conditions such as I live in myself and a story that can engage my interest and heart as much as my own domestic life does.

Related Characters: Lotte (Charlotte S.) (speaker), Werther
Related Symbols: Books
Page Number: 39
Explanation and Analysis:

I was one of the most afraid myself, and in pretending to be brave, to stiffen the others' courage, I found my own courage

Related Characters: Lotte (Charlotte S.) (speaker), Werther
Related Symbols: Storms
Page Number: 43
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 1: Jun 19-Jul 6, 1771 Quotes

We don't know who planted that one. Some say it was one vicar and some say another. But the younger one over there is as old as my wife, fifty years old come October. Her father planted it in the morning and that same evening she was born.

Related Characters: Vicar of S. (speaker), Werther, Lotte (Charlotte S.)
Related Symbols: Trees
Page Number: 47
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 1: Jul 8-19, 1771 Quotes

My dear fellow, that is the uncertainty I am left in; and my consolation is that perhaps she did turn to look at me! Perhaps!

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.)
Page Number: 51
Explanation and Analysis:

No, I am not deceiving myself! …Yes, I can feel—and I know I may trust my own heart in this—Oh, dare I utter the words, those words that contain all heaven for me?—I can feel that she loves me!

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.), Wilhelm
Page Number: 52
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 1: Jul 19-Aug 12, 1771 Quotes

I have started on a portrait of Lotte three times, and three times I have failed disgracefully; which depresses me all the more since I could take a very good likeness not so long ago. So then I cut a silhouette profile of her, and that will have to do.

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.)
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:

I grind my teeth and mock my own misery…I go rambling in the woods, and if my walk takes me to Lotte's and I find Albert sitting in the summerhouse with her in the greenery, and I cannot bear it any more.

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.), Albert
Page Number: 57
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 1: Oct 20, 1771-Feb 20, 1772 Quotes

But I was meaning to tell you of Miss von B. She has a great soul, which gazes straight at one from her blue eyes. Her rank is a burden and satisfies none of the wishes of her heart. She is longing to put all this brouhaha behind her, and we spend many an hour imagining country scenes of unadulterated bliss…

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.), Miss von B.
Page Number: 78
Explanation and Analysis:

Oh, it would drive me insane if she could forget—Albert, the very thought is hell.

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.), Albert
Page Number: 80
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2: Jun 11-Nov 3, 1772 Quotes

It cost me a wrench but in the end I decided not to wear the simple blue frock-coat I had on when I first danced with Lotte any more; it had become quite unpresentable. Still, I have had a new one made, exactly like the other, down to the collar and lapels, and the very same buff waistcoat and breeches as well.

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.)
Page Number: 92
Explanation and Analysis:

I have so much, and my feelings for her absorb it all; I have so much, and without her it is all nothing.

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.)
Page Number: 97
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2: Dec 20-21, 1772 Quotes

All of these reflections prompted a profound realization, albeit one which she was not consciously aware of, that her secret heart's desire was to keep him for herself, yet at the same time she reminded herself that she could not and might not keep him; her pure and beautiful nature, which at other times was so lighthearted and readily found a way out of predicaments, sensed the oppressive power of melancholy, banishing the prospect of happiness. Her heart was heavy, and her vision was clouded by sadness.

Related Characters: Editor (speaker), Werther, Lotte (Charlotte S.)
Page Number: 119
Explanation and Analysis:
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Lotte (Charlotte S.) Quotes in The Sorrows of Young Werther

The The Sorrows of Young Werther quotes below are all either spoken by Lotte (Charlotte S.) or refer to Lotte (Charlotte S.). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Heart vs. The Mind Theme Icon
).
Book 1: Jun 16, 1771 Quotes

When I was younger there was nothing I loved better than novels. God knows how good it felt to be able to sit in some corner on a Sunday and share with my whole heart in Miss Jenny's happiness and sorrows. Nor do I deny that that kind of writing still has its charms for me. But since I so rarely come by a book, it has to be one that is quite to my taste. And I like that author best who shows me my own world, conditions such as I live in myself and a story that can engage my interest and heart as much as my own domestic life does.

Related Characters: Lotte (Charlotte S.) (speaker), Werther
Related Symbols: Books
Page Number: 39
Explanation and Analysis:

I was one of the most afraid myself, and in pretending to be brave, to stiffen the others' courage, I found my own courage

Related Characters: Lotte (Charlotte S.) (speaker), Werther
Related Symbols: Storms
Page Number: 43
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 1: Jun 19-Jul 6, 1771 Quotes

We don't know who planted that one. Some say it was one vicar and some say another. But the younger one over there is as old as my wife, fifty years old come October. Her father planted it in the morning and that same evening she was born.

Related Characters: Vicar of S. (speaker), Werther, Lotte (Charlotte S.)
Related Symbols: Trees
Page Number: 47
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 1: Jul 8-19, 1771 Quotes

My dear fellow, that is the uncertainty I am left in; and my consolation is that perhaps she did turn to look at me! Perhaps!

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.)
Page Number: 51
Explanation and Analysis:

No, I am not deceiving myself! …Yes, I can feel—and I know I may trust my own heart in this—Oh, dare I utter the words, those words that contain all heaven for me?—I can feel that she loves me!

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.), Wilhelm
Page Number: 52
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 1: Jul 19-Aug 12, 1771 Quotes

I have started on a portrait of Lotte three times, and three times I have failed disgracefully; which depresses me all the more since I could take a very good likeness not so long ago. So then I cut a silhouette profile of her, and that will have to do.

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.)
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:

I grind my teeth and mock my own misery…I go rambling in the woods, and if my walk takes me to Lotte's and I find Albert sitting in the summerhouse with her in the greenery, and I cannot bear it any more.

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.), Albert
Page Number: 57
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 1: Oct 20, 1771-Feb 20, 1772 Quotes

But I was meaning to tell you of Miss von B. She has a great soul, which gazes straight at one from her blue eyes. Her rank is a burden and satisfies none of the wishes of her heart. She is longing to put all this brouhaha behind her, and we spend many an hour imagining country scenes of unadulterated bliss…

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.), Miss von B.
Page Number: 78
Explanation and Analysis:

Oh, it would drive me insane if she could forget—Albert, the very thought is hell.

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.), Albert
Page Number: 80
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2: Jun 11-Nov 3, 1772 Quotes

It cost me a wrench but in the end I decided not to wear the simple blue frock-coat I had on when I first danced with Lotte any more; it had become quite unpresentable. Still, I have had a new one made, exactly like the other, down to the collar and lapels, and the very same buff waistcoat and breeches as well.

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.)
Page Number: 92
Explanation and Analysis:

I have so much, and my feelings for her absorb it all; I have so much, and without her it is all nothing.

Related Characters: Werther (speaker), Lotte (Charlotte S.)
Page Number: 97
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2: Dec 20-21, 1772 Quotes

All of these reflections prompted a profound realization, albeit one which she was not consciously aware of, that her secret heart's desire was to keep him for herself, yet at the same time she reminded herself that she could not and might not keep him; her pure and beautiful nature, which at other times was so lighthearted and readily found a way out of predicaments, sensed the oppressive power of melancholy, banishing the prospect of happiness. Her heart was heavy, and her vision was clouded by sadness.

Related Characters: Editor (speaker), Werther, Lotte (Charlotte S.)
Page Number: 119
Explanation and Analysis: