# Charlotte — The Sorrows of Young Werther character guide

> Charlotte in The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** dear Charlotte

**First appearance:** 0002-book-i

## Who they are

A warm, capable young woman whose natural grace and steady goodness draw Werther helplessly toward her, though her heart already belongs to another.

## Relationships

### [Werther](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/characters/werther)

_romantic_

Werther is obsessively in love with Charlotte, who is fond of him but bound by duty to Albert.

### [Albert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/characters/albert)

_family_

Albert is Charlotte's sensible and devoted fiancé, later husband.

### [The Servant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/characters/the_servant)

_professional_

The servant is employed in Charlotte's household and carries out her requests.

### [Wilhelm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/characters/wilhelm)

_social_

Wilhelm is Werther's friend and correspondent, known to Charlotte only through Werther's letters.

### [Jane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/characters/jane)

_friendship_

Jane is a friend or acquaintance of Charlotte's in their social circle.

### [Ossian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/characters/ossian)

_psychological_

Ossian is the poetic work they read together, which intensifies their shared emotional turmoil.

### [The good-natured A](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/characters/the_good_natured_a)

_social_

The good-natured A is a member of Charlotte and Werther's social circle.

### [The Doctor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/characters/the_doctor)

_professional_

The Doctor is a local professional known to Charlotte's family.

### [Sophy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/characters/sophy)

_family_

Sophy is Charlotte's younger sister, part of the family household.

### [Werther](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/characters/werther)

_romantic_

Werther is obsessively in love with Charlotte, who is fond of him but bound by duty to Albert.

### [Werther](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/characters/werther)

_romantic_

Werther is obsessively in love with Charlotte, who is fond of him but bound by duty to Albert.

### [Albert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/characters/albert)

_family_

Albert is Charlotte's sensible and devoted fiancé, later husband.

## In the story

### [Book I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/chapters/book-i)

The object of Werther's intense affection. Her presence absorbs him completely, leading to his emotional crisis. She is unaware of his final departure.

### [Book II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/chapters/book-ii)

Her playing triggers Werther's emotional breakdown; she perceptively tells him he is ill and urges him to compose himself.

### [The Editor to the Reader](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/chapters/the-editor-to-the-reader)

Torn between pity and virtue during the final meeting; definitively rejects Werther but is left in fearful anticipation; is forced by Albert's cold command to hand over the pistols, an act that shatters her.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/chapters/endnotes)

Her implied literary judgment and approbation are referenced by the editor, though she does not appear directly.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/characters/charlotte
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/characters