# Endnotes explained — The Sorrows of Young Werther

> Chapter companion for The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

## What happens

A brief editorial note from the fictional publisher, explaining the decision to change place names and suppress a passage from one of Werther's letters to avoid causing offense, while assuring certain unnamed authors of Charlotte's esteem.

## Character check-ins

### Charlotte

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

### Werther

The editor references a passage from one of his letters that has been suppressed.

## Key lines

> We have found it necessary to change the names given in the original.

The editor states that place names have been altered.

_Highlights the fictional editor's role in shaping the narrative for publication._

> We feel obliged to suppress the passage in the letter, to prevent anyone from feeling aggrieved...

A part of a letter is omitted to avoid causing personal offense.

_Shows editorial censorship motivated by social propriety._

> Though the names are omitted, yet the authors mentioned deserve Charlotte’s approbation...

Unnamed authors should know Charlotte approved of them.

_Reinforces Charlotte's character as a discerning reader and the editor's role as an intermediary._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/chapters/endnotes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_sorrows_of_young_werther_se/chapters