In connection with the female characters of the "Years of Learning," the question of how they relate to heroines from earlier German original novels has largely gone unnoticed. The aim of this study is to highlight this relationship. Against the backdrop of the portrayals of femininity in all available German original novels from 1750 to 1770, the female figures of the "Years of Learning" appear in a very modern light. They testify to Goethe's sensitivity to the issues faced by women in the society of his time and reflect his decidedly progressive stance. Furthermore, the heroines also serve as symbols of Goethe's belief in the humane evolution of humanity.