Leutnant Gustl
(Arthur Schnitzler)
The scene: Vienna.The time: the evening and the night of April 4th to 5th. The hero of the bookis second lieutenant Gustl. While sitting in the opera during a very boring oratorio, his thoughtslead to akind of monologue with himself. From this monologue the reader learns, for example, that Kopetzky had given the second lieutenantthe ticket to the opera. Gustl's superior officer, the major, sees him there as well. Gustl also thinksabout Kopetzky's sister. He sawher last in the Officers' Club. She is a Viennese Dance-singer. He leaves his seat and enters the wardrobe where he has an argument with others. Soon after he notices that someone has taken his saber from its sheath and broken it in two. Gustl suspects the master baker. Hebecomes depressed. he regards it as scandalous.He nowthinks about what his superior will say about it. he runs out and arrives at the Prater at night. During the run, he considers what he should do.He comes tothink that the best solution would be his suicide. He wants to shoot himself. He also considers thatmother and his sister Klara will complain of it after his death.Now hethinks that the better solution would beto fleeto America where nobody knows him. Yet hedecides to kill himself at seven o'clock. He goes first to the coffee house and leanrsof the death of the master baker. He is glad and forgets suicide.This book tells a very personal story in the first person. The time of the taleand the telling are the same.Incomplete sentences andcommon vulgaritiesstrengthens the sense of authenticitywhich this work conveys.
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