Mann’s “loyal subject” in brief summary
The central character of the novel Diederich Gesling was born in a German family of the middle bourgeois, the owner of a paper mill in the city of Netzig. As a child, he was often sick, he was afraid of everything and especially of his father. His mother, Frau Gasling, also lives in awe of anger the spouse. The father accuses his wife of the fact that she morally maims her son, develops lies and dreaminess in him. In the gym Diderich tries not to stand out, but at home dominates the younger sisters Emmy and Magda, forcing them to write daily dictations. After the gymnasium, Diederich, on the decision of his father, leaves for Berlin to continue his studies at the university at the chemical faculty.
In Berlin, a young man feels very lonely, a big city scares him. Only after four months he ventures to go to Mr. Geppel, the owner of the pulp factory with which his father has business relations. There he meets with Agnes, the daughter of a manufacturer. But the romantic fervor of
Once, when he went to the pharmacy, Diderich meets his school friend Gottlieb, who lures him to the student corporation of Novotevtoniya, where a cult of beer and deceitful chivalry thrives, where various and simple reactionary nationalist ideas are in the process. Diderich is proud to participate in this, in his opinion, “school of courage and idealism.” Having received a letter from home about the serious illness of his father, he immediately returns to Netzig. He is shocked by his father’s death, but at the same time he is intoxicated with the feeling of “crazy” freedom. The share of Diederich’s inheritance is not large, but with the skillful management of the factory one can live well. However, the young man returns to Berlin again,
Returning to Berlin, Diderich revels in talking about German greatness. In February 1892, he witnessed a demonstration of the unemployed and was delighted for the first time seeing the young Kaiser Wilhelm, who was walking along the streets of the city and demonstrating the power of power. Intoxicated by loyalty to the feelings, Gushing rushes to him, but on the run falls right into the puddle, causing a cheerful laugh of the Kaiser.
The meeting of Diderich and Agnes, after many months of separation, revives in him, with renewed vigor, the attraction to her. Their romantic connection develops into physical intimacy. Diderich reflects on a possible marriage. But his constant hesitations and fears are due to the fact that the business at Mr. Geppel’s factory is going badly, that Agnes, in his opinion, is too much trying to fall in love with him. He imagines the conspiracy of his father and daughter, and he moves to another apartment, so that no one can find him there. However, after two weeks, Father Agnes, who had found him, knocks on the door to Diderich and talks frankly with him. Diederich coldly explains that he has no moral right to his future children to marry a girl who, before the wedding, lost her innocence.
Returning to Netzig, on the train Gasling is getting acquainted with a young lady named Gusta Dymchen, but after learning that she is already engaged to Wolfgang Buk, the youngest son of the head of the city government, she is a little upset. Gesling, who received the diploma, is now often called a “doctor”, and he is determined to win a place under the sun, “to crush competitors.” To this end, he immediately takes a number of steps: begins to change the order in the factory, tightens discipline, imports new equipment. In addition, he hurriedly visits the most influential people in the city: Mr. Buk, a liberal by conviction, participant in the revolutionary events of 1848, the burgomaster, whose main principle is the cult of force. The discussions of Mr. Jadasson from the prosecutor’s office, which considers Buk and his son-in-law Lauer as criminals,
The city is animatedly discussing a case in which a guardsman shot a young worker with a rifle shot. Gesling, Yadasson, Pastor Zillich condemn all attempts by the workers to change anything and demand that all the reins of government be transferred to the bourgeoisie. Lauer objects to them, arguing that the bourgeoisie can not be the ruling caste, because it can not even boast of the purity of the race – in princely families, including in German families, everywhere there is an admixture of Jewish blood. He hints that the Kaiser’s family is not an exception to the rule either. The furious Gesling, instigated by Yadasson, appeals to the prosecutor’s office with a complaint against Lauer for his “seditious speeches”. At the court hearing, Gusling is called as the main witness of the prosecution. The speeches of attorney Wolfgang Buk, prosecutor Jadasson, chairman, the investigator and other witnesses alternately change the chances of prosecution and defense. Gesling has to wriggle out and cheer – after all, it is not known who the decisive word will be. By the end of the process Gesling is convinced that those who have more dexterity and power win. And he, quickly orienting himself, turns his final word into a rally, calling for the fulfillment of any will of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The court sentences Lauer to six months in prison. Geslinga, on the recommendation of the regional rector Von Vulkova, is admitted to the Honorary Ferein of the veterans of the city. turns his final word into a rally, calling for the fulfillment of any will of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The court sentences Lauer to six months in prison. Geslinga, on the recommendation of the regional rector Von Vulkova, is admitted to the Honorary Ferein of the veterans of the city. turns his final word into a rally, calling for the fulfillment of any will of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The court sentences Lauer to six months in prison. Geslinga, on the recommendation of the regional rector Von Vulkova, is admitted to the Honorary Ferein of the veterans of the city.
Gusling’s second victory takes place on a “personal front” – he marries Guste Dymchen and receives a dowry worth a half million marks. During the honeymoon in Zurich, Diderich learns from the newspapers that Wilhelm II is going to Rome with a visit to King I of Italy. Gesling rushes along with his young wife to the same place and, not missing a single day, is on duty on the streets of Rome, waiting for the crew of the Kaiser. Seeing the monarch, he yells hoarsely: “Long live the Kaiser!” He became so familiar with the police and journalists that they already perceive him as an official of the personal guard of the Kaiser, who is ready to protect the monarch with his body. And then one day in the Italian newspaper there is a picture, capturing the Kaiser and Gesling in one frame. Happiness and pride overwhelm Gusling, and he, returning to Netzig, hastily organizes a “party of the Kaiser.” To achieve political leadership, and at the same time to strengthen his financial and entrepreneurial position, he enters into transactions with all the influential people in the city. With the socialist leader, Fischer, he agrees that the socialists will support Gelsling’s so dear idea of creating a monument to Wilhelm I, the grandfather of the modern Kaiser, in Netzig. In return, the “Kaiser Party” promises to support Fischer’s candidacy for the Reichstag elections. When Gesling faces obstacles, he is sure that they are adjusted by the “clever” old man Buck. And Gesling does not stop at nothing to sweep away Buk from his path: he uses blackmail, incitement and the crowd’s love for scandals. He accuses Buk and his friends of fraud with public money. he enters into transactions with all the influential people of the city. With the socialist leader, Fischer, he agrees that the socialists will support Gelsling’s so dear idea of creating a monument to Wilhelm I, the grandfather of the modern Kaiser, in Netzig. In return, the “Kaiser Party” promises to support Fischer’s candidacy for the Reichstag elections. When Gesling faces obstacles, he is sure that they are adjusted by the “clever” old man Buck. And Gesling does not stop at nothing to sweep away Buk from his path: he uses blackmail, incitement and the crowd’s love for scandals. He accuses Buk and his friends of fraud with public money. he enters into transactions with all the influential people of the city. With the socialist leader, Fischer, he agrees that the socialists will support Gelsling’s so dear idea of creating a monument to Wilhelm I, the grandfather of the modern Kaiser, in Netzig. In return, the “Kaiser Party” promises to support Fischer’s candidacy for the Reichstag elections. When Gesling faces obstacles, he is sure that they are adjusted by the “clever” old man Buck. And Gesling does not stop at nothing to sweep away Buk from his path: he uses blackmail, incitement and the crowd’s love for scandals. He accuses Buk and his friends of fraud with public money. that socialists will support such an expensive idea of Gesling about the creation in Netziga of a monument to Wilhelm I, the grandfather of the modern Kaiser. In return, the “Kaiser Party” promises to support Fischer’s candidacy for the Reichstag elections. When Gesling faces obstacles, he is sure that they are adjusted by the “clever” old man Buck. And Gesling does not stop at nothing to sweep away Buk from his path: he uses blackmail, incitement and the crowd’s love for scandals. He accuses Buk and his friends of fraud with public money. that socialists will support such an expensive idea of Gesling about the creation in Netziga of a monument to Wilhelm I, the grandfather of the modern Kaiser. In return, the “Kaiser Party” promises to support Fischer’s candidacy for the Reichstag elections. When Gesling faces obstacles, he is sure that they are adjusted by the “clever” old man Buck. And Gesling does not stop at nothing to sweep away Buk from his path: he uses blackmail, incitement and the crowd’s love for scandals. He accuses Buk and his friends of fraud with public money. to sweep away from his path Buck: he uses blackmail, incitement and the crowd’s love for scandals. He accuses Buk and his friends of fraud with public money. to sweep away from his path Buck: he uses blackmail, incitement and the crowd’s love for scandals. He accuses Buk and his friends of fraud with public money.
In the newspapers, the name Diederich Gäsling is increasingly appearing, honor and wealth raise him in the eyes of the townspeople, he is elected chairman of the committee for the construction of the monument to the Kaiser. On the opening day of the monument, Dr. Gesling pronounces an exalted speech about the German Nation and its election. But suddenly there begins a terrible thunderstorm with heavy rain and strong gusts of wind. This flood causes the speaker to hide under the rostrum with which he had just spoken. Having stayed there, he decides to return home, on the way he goes into the house to Buk and finds out that he is at death: the life shocks of recent months have completely undermined his health. Gesling quietly makes his way into the room, where the dying old man is, surrounded by his relatives, and imperceptibly cuddles to the wall. Buk last time looks around the people and, seeing Gusling, in fright, he jerks his head. Relatives embrace excitement, and one of them exclaims: “He saw something! He saw the devil!” Diderich Gesling immediately disappears unnoticed.
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