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Wilhelm
The editor, a fictitious publishing supervisor responsible for compiling Werther’s correspondence with Wilhelm, is one of the book’s narrators (alongside Werther himself). The editor, who first appears in a short foreword introducing the book, shows a genuine affection for Werther and recognizes that most people reading the book will genuinely feel for Werther and the helplessness of his predicament. He hopes that, by telling Werther’s story, others greatly affected by emotion will find some comfort in knowing that they aren’t alone. The editor also steps in during the final moments of the book to fill in the gaps in the story that Werther’s letter-based narration leave. Ultimately, the Editor takes over for Werther after his suicide and shows a strange, seemingly complete, knowledge of not simply the events following Werther’s death, but also the feelings and thoughts of those affected by it.
Editor Quotes in The Sorrows of Young Werther
The The Sorrows of Young Werther quotes below are all either spoken by Editor or refer to Editor. 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:
).
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.
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Editor Quotes in The Sorrows of Young Werther
The The Sorrows of Young Werther quotes below are all either spoken by Editor or refer to Editor. 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:
).
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:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
