Zündels Abgang
Encyclopedia
Zündels Abgang is the first novel of Swiss writer Markus Werner
(1944 in Eschlikon
), that was published in 1984 and became a bestseller and enjoys the status of cult novel for a lot of readers.
During many summer weeks, the life of the depressive, intellectual, quixotic
protagonist
is destroyed step by step. In the reader’s eyes, Zündel simply suffers one mishap after another, but for the unstable teacher - that says, he never was happy in his life - these mishaps lead into mania
and into the planning and execution of his departure.
Konrad Zündel and his wife Magda, whose relationship after five years breaks down because of everyday things, decide to spend their holiday
s separately. While Magda spends some days with her friend Helen, Konrad decides to visit Greece
. But in Italy
, he suddenly loses an incisor
and travels back to Switzerland
per train. While travelling, his wallet gets stolen and he, into the bargain, finds a severed finger on the train closet. This severed finger’s origins and meaning never are explained. In his Swiss flat, the caretaker
denotes, Magda did something with another man. Later, this statement turns out to be a lie – but the thought of losing his wife throws Zündel out of his way. He travels to Genua, where he once was sired by a Swiss sick-nurse and an irresponsible globetrotter. In Genua, he is drunken nearly all the time and tries to write down his philosophical – often cynic – gnosis
.
It is about – like the whole novel – the relation between Konrad and Magda, between man and woman, between womanhood and manhood. The guilty for his departure, due to Magda, who represent the totality
of all women, who destroy men with their will to self-actualization.
Zündel has two important meetings in Genua: In a bar, he meets Serafin (not only his name reminds angels) a Spanish sailor
with an Austrian dialect. The two men are constating a relation between their souls – and leave each other. Not less surreal is the meeting with the French woman Nounou; Zündel spends a night with her, again discovering relation of souls. He leaves her in dawn, before the situation would necessitate hundred knives to separate us.
After these two meetings, Zündel wants to fulfil the main goal of his voyage: Getting an illegal handgun. This plan shipwrecks, too. Because of his naivety and gentleman's style, Zündel is frauded. Afterwards, he travels home. Extremely confused, undernutrited and now heavily addicted to alcohol, he enters the flat, where the distressed Magda has expected his return for days. A normal conversation, that would clear these misunderstandings (e.g. the not existing lover), isn't possible, because Zündel now is mentally ill.
The next morning, the teacher Zündel only gives another two lessons, which turn out to be very strange. Then he breaks down in school, is brought to the hospital and then to mental clinic. The psychiatrists fail in making a diagnosis.
Zündel escapes from the clinic to his weekend house in the mountains, where he hides armed and dangerous. The narrator, Busch, is the last person who is able to get close to him, before he departs finally.
The power of words and the archaic constructions of Werner, read impressive and plausible.
Sometimes, there is irony, that makes the tragicomic, prevents the story’s pathetic expression from getting kitsch. Impressive are the direct conversations of the persons, especially Zündel’s.
Meaningless, inadequate statements, start sounding like symbolic parables, which deeper meaning, promises high gnosis – that isn’t reachable, that lies.
Climax of this technique are Zündel’s totally meaningless, incoherent answers on the psychiatrist’s questions. The conversations sound like the dialogue of absurdist theatre.
The Swiss roots of the author and the protagonists are noticeable during the whole novel:
There are Helvetism
s like das Tram instead of die Tram(-bahn), because the Swiss say Tram (streetcar) with a neuter article, instead of using the feminine article, that would be correct in Standard German. Werner also writes es tönt, while Standard German writers would rather use es klingt for it sounds.
Markus Werner
Markus Werner is a German-speaking Swiss writer, the author of Zündels Abgang .-Life:...
(1944 in Eschlikon
Eschlikon
Eschlikon is a municipality in the district of Münchwilen in the canton of Thurgau in Switzerland.-History:Eschlikon is first mentioned in 1280 as Aeslikon. During the Middle Ages, most of Eschlikon belonged to the monastery of Magdenau and Heiliggeistspital in St. Gallen. Eschlikon was part of...
), that was published in 1984 and became a bestseller and enjoys the status of cult novel for a lot of readers.
Plot summary
From diary-style notes and personal memories and conversations, the fictive narrator Reverend Busch reconstructs and documents the stepwise fall of his missing friend, the teacher Konrad Zündel.During many summer weeks, the life of the depressive, intellectual, quixotic
Quixotic
Quixotic may refer to:* Quixotic, an adjective deriving from the novel Don Quixote* Quixotic, an album by Martina Topley-Bird* Quix*o*tic, a Washington D.C. based rock band* DJ Quixotic, a Los Angeles-based record producer...
protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
is destroyed step by step. In the reader’s eyes, Zündel simply suffers one mishap after another, but for the unstable teacher - that says, he never was happy in his life - these mishaps lead into mania
Mania
Mania, the presence of which is a criterion for certain psychiatric diagnoses, is a state of abnormally elevated or irritable mood, arousal, and/ or energy levels. In a sense, it is the opposite of depression...
and into the planning and execution of his departure.
Konrad Zündel and his wife Magda, whose relationship after five years breaks down because of everyday things, decide to spend their holiday
Holiday
A Holiday is a day designated as having special significance for which individuals, a government, or a religious group have deemed that observance is warranted. It is generally an official or unofficial observance of religious, national, or cultural significance, often accompanied by celebrations...
s separately. While Magda spends some days with her friend Helen, Konrad decides to visit Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. But in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, he suddenly loses an incisor
Incisor
Incisors are the first kind of tooth in heterodont mammals. They are located in the premaxilla above and mandible below.-Function:...
and travels back to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
per train. While travelling, his wallet gets stolen and he, into the bargain, finds a severed finger on the train closet. This severed finger’s origins and meaning never are explained. In his Swiss flat, the caretaker
Property caretaker
A Property caretaker is a person, group or organization that cares for real estate for trade or financial compensation, and sometimes as a barter for rent-free living accommodations...
denotes, Magda did something with another man. Later, this statement turns out to be a lie – but the thought of losing his wife throws Zündel out of his way. He travels to Genua, where he once was sired by a Swiss sick-nurse and an irresponsible globetrotter. In Genua, he is drunken nearly all the time and tries to write down his philosophical – often cynic – gnosis
Gnosis
Gnosis is the common Greek noun for knowledge . In the context of the English language gnosis generally refers to the word's meaning within the spheres of Christian mysticism, Mystery religions and Gnosticism where it signifies 'spiritual knowledge' in the sense of mystical enlightenment.-Related...
.
It is about – like the whole novel – the relation between Konrad and Magda, between man and woman, between womanhood and manhood. The guilty for his departure, due to Magda, who represent the totality
Totality
Totality Corporation was a venture-backed professional services and managed services provider based out of San Francisco, from the years 1999 to 2005.Totality was previously named "MimEcom", prior to the company going public in December of 2000....
of all women, who destroy men with their will to self-actualization.
Zündel has two important meetings in Genua: In a bar, he meets Serafin (not only his name reminds angels) a Spanish sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
with an Austrian dialect. The two men are constating a relation between their souls – and leave each other. Not less surreal is the meeting with the French woman Nounou; Zündel spends a night with her, again discovering relation of souls. He leaves her in dawn, before the situation would necessitate hundred knives to separate us.
After these two meetings, Zündel wants to fulfil the main goal of his voyage: Getting an illegal handgun. This plan shipwrecks, too. Because of his naivety and gentleman's style, Zündel is frauded. Afterwards, he travels home. Extremely confused, undernutrited and now heavily addicted to alcohol, he enters the flat, where the distressed Magda has expected his return for days. A normal conversation, that would clear these misunderstandings (e.g. the not existing lover), isn't possible, because Zündel now is mentally ill.
The next morning, the teacher Zündel only gives another two lessons, which turn out to be very strange. Then he breaks down in school, is brought to the hospital and then to mental clinic. The psychiatrists fail in making a diagnosis.
Zündel escapes from the clinic to his weekend house in the mountains, where he hides armed and dangerous. The narrator, Busch, is the last person who is able to get close to him, before he departs finally.
Style
A very interesting feature in narration is the connection of the two narrative levels: The background of Zündel’s story narrated by Busch, that is staged and discussed again and again throughout the novel – and the philosophic pathos of the unpragmatic intellectual Zündel that opposes it.The power of words and the archaic constructions of Werner, read impressive and plausible.
Sometimes, there is irony, that makes the tragicomic, prevents the story’s pathetic expression from getting kitsch. Impressive are the direct conversations of the persons, especially Zündel’s.
Meaningless, inadequate statements, start sounding like symbolic parables, which deeper meaning, promises high gnosis – that isn’t reachable, that lies.
Climax of this technique are Zündel’s totally meaningless, incoherent answers on the psychiatrist’s questions. The conversations sound like the dialogue of absurdist theatre.
The Swiss roots of the author and the protagonists are noticeable during the whole novel:
There are Helvetism
Helvetism
Helvetisms are a large group of words typical for Swiss Standard German, which do not appear in either of Standard German or Standard German dialects...
s like das Tram instead of die Tram(-bahn), because the Swiss say Tram (streetcar) with a neuter article, instead of using the feminine article, that would be correct in Standard German. Werner also writes es tönt, while Standard German writers would rather use es klingt for it sounds.