Summary “Let’s call myself Gantenbain”
The plot is divided into several separate stories, and in each of them there are several different options. So, for example, the image of the person leading the narrative is divided into two opposite images, Enderlin and Gantenbein, showing the ways of his further existence available for the narrator. The author does not disclose their fate to the end, not allowing them to see the development of their future life. After all, they are not so important, it is the true essence of man, in that “hidden”, that at every opportunity creeps out, becoming ordinary.
The narrator tries on his hero different images, as different clothes. Until recently, his hero, Enderlin knocked down eleven young people, thinking that he would take part in several lectures at Harvard, which was received only recently. But now he somehow decided not to take part and give lectures on philosophy. He has lost the desire to speak to acquaintances and colleagues in the form of a forty-year-old PhD,
Gandenbayn is freed from some of the features that used to beset him. For example – from jealousy. Now he can not be seen – conversations, letters, smiles, people who are next to his beloved girlfriend. And will it help him?
Enderlin can not decide to play the role of Gantenbein. He looks at his life in the future – what it will be like. He imagined that on a rainy evening he was sitting in one of the bars, waiting for the appearance of some unknown František Freedom. And at the appointed time on the threshold of the bar appears beautiful blue-eyed woman about thirty years old, said that her husband can not come, because he should leave
The next day, Enderlin really needs to leave this unfamiliar town. He leaves for the airport. But on the way his mind is restless, feelings for this woman appear in him. Two different “I” appeared in it, which draw it in different directions. The first person – believes that you need to leave, and the second – that you need to stay. If he leaves, everything will end like this. And if he decides to stay here, then it becomes a part of his existence. But, and then what comes back – from the trip Svoboda – a tall broad-shouldered Czech, as Eiderlin imagines himself. Time passes, and his wife, who, for example, is called Lily, and she tells her husband that he loves another. And if the husband is prudent, then he will go to the resort, so that his wife will decide on her future destiny. He impresses her with his masculinity and romanticism, with which he tells her such words. And maybe she stays with him. Or maybe – he goes to Enderlin. And is it life?
This may have happened at the moment when he began to portray himself as a blind man. She took him to her support, but does not know that her man has his own bank account, that he has all receipts, bills, fines. He buys her gifts, says that she gets them for her pocket money. But, in fact – such gifts do not allow themselves to Lily. The woman is an actress – she is beautiful, talented, really, a little careless. She never cleans, does not wash the dishes after her. And in her absence, Gantenbain spends cleaning at home, and the woman tells that there are magic gnomes that put everything in order – wrestlers with cleanliness.
Gantenbain walks with Lily through the studio, spends so much time with her, discussing new items in clothes, in fashion. Before, no one had been with her that much time. He is present at the rehearsals in the theater, says that it is necessary to correct in her game.
He meets her at the airport, when she returns home from the next round. He does not ask – who is the man who brings her suitcases. But this is the same person. He does not ask about the letters that the postman often brings her. They are marked with Danish stamps. He does not ask – he does not see anything.
Lily lives happily with Gantenbayn.
But does Gantenbayn have enough endurance to keep the status of the blind. And let’s say that one day, he will tell Lila that he is not blind at all, and he saw everything. He will begin to question – who is this man who constantly brings her suitcases, from whom those letters are sent. The girl is shaking with hysterics. After Gantenbayn asks for forgiveness. The girl is leaving for another round. Returning, she honestly tells her man that she was molested by a youth who was going to marry her. And after that a telegram comes to their house, that soon he will come to fulfill his word. Gantenbein ceases to be blind – now he is completely hated by her. He always succumbs to hysterics. And after the letter arrives, she speaks frankly. Lily and Gantenbain are pretty close to each other. But this world is also broken when they knock at the door of their house.
On the threshold of their house is a young man. Gantenbein had never seen him. The master grabs the guest’s arms and drags him to the bedroom. The girl screams, but Gantenbain does not want to hear anything at all. He closes them together on the key, and takes the key with him. Later he still comes back. He meets such a picture – the door to the bedroom is broken, his girl in a blue robe looks at the appearance of her man. She says that this is a young medical student who dreams of performing on stage. He came to ask for advice. And when he leaves, Lily declares that he can no longer be with Gantenbayn. Everything becomes clear – it is better for him to remain blind.
Once, one day, he decides to visit Enderlin. The way of life, which now leads Enderlin, has changed a lot. He now has a rich house, expensive and luxurious cars, subordination from servants, wonderful furniture, jewelry. The money is inexhaustible in Enderlyn. Enderlin leads the narrative of Gentenbayne, so that he understands everything. But why is he silent? The author specifically changes the profession of Lily. Now she is not an actress – now she is a scientific figure. At the same time, the words pronounced by the girl also change. Everything changes – the circle of communication changes. Or, in general, she is the countess. And thus the circle of dialogue also varies, everything that surrounded them changes. Lily likes to sleep for a long time, loves to have breakfast in her bed. Gantenbayne does not like this. But he can wait hours for the girl to the dinner table. She does not have time, she lives her own life. And Count Gutenbain begins to seriously get angry that servants should seriously work to calm their master. Therefore, Antonio does everything to make the blind owner feel the presence of the countess. And when he leaves – then Gantenbain begins to talk with the hostess, although she is not at all in front of him. He asks about those letters he read about that Dane Niels (the supposed name for the Dane). But what will the Countess answer him, who is asleep, which is not?
Where is the real Lily now? And what of all the events, in fact, happened in the life of the hero, which ends like this? One man had serious feelings for one woman. This woman is crazy about another man, the first man fell in love with another woman, who in turn adores another man: this is a fairly common story, which, however, does not fit the ends into a single whole.
In addition to the main characters in this story there are various secondary characters, the themes are raised. The theme of morality, of the international political situation is being raised. People get into different situations, it shows what steps they decide to take. One person realizes that he has only one year to live, and how his life changes from that. Another reads in the newspaper’s own obituary. He is present at his own funeral. But it’s not him, is it? And who is he? How can he live?
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