Ring of Polycrates : One cannot escape ones destiny. I miss the joke here. What was Stohr thinking
of?
Joachim is moody and up
to something. The weather which is bad darkens the mood. Joachim is rebelling
against his stay. HC is scared. If Joachim leaves, he will be left alone on the
mountain. Worse, if Joachim stops his cure, HC fears he will die.
An uncovered secret
love affair turns into a scandal and Behrens has to expel the three culprits. Why
is this important? To explain Behrens later outburst of temper? Or are the
guests of the Sanatorium slipping more and more into immorality and scandalous
behaviour?
Joachim: “Director
Behrens…I have decided to depart”. Joachim takes up the responsibility for his
health and decides to go to the army in the flatlands.
Behrens in a frustrated
rage ( I think ) has an outburst of temper. Interestingly he says that Hans is
cured and can leave too. Hans cannot accept this and wants to stay in the
Sanatorium – …(for) HC a departure seemed impossible… he had to wait for
Clawdia Chauchat”
HC remembers Herr Albin’s
suicidal boast he once overheard: the sweetness of deciding to give up.
Joachim was for HC an
example of self-discipline and order. What will happen if this influence disappears?
Hans has slipped in to silence and inaction. He is likened to the Quietists.
When the cousins say adieu to each other at
the railway station where they met a year ago, both get emotional. Joachim uses
for the first time Hans first name. With his last words he urges Hans to come
soon to the flatlands too…
Hans is on his own…
