Summary of “Caspar Hauser”
The protagonist of the novel, Jacob Wasserman, was written according to a real person, who was often mentioned and written in Europe. They suddenly appeared in Nuremberg in 1828, this young stranger, he was sixteen or seventeen years old, whose past was shrouded in mystery, and his life was interrupted soon.
The beginning of the novel describes the events taking place in 1828 in the summer in the city of Nuremberg. The inhabitants of Nuremberg learned that in the fortress tower a young man of about sixteen was kept in custody, who knew nothing about himself, because he spoke like a child of two years, taking only water and bread from the guards and walking heavily.
On paper, he managed to write his name, his name was Caspar Hauser. Some thought he was a caveman, and others thought he was a little underdeveloped commoner. But his appearance of the stranger, his velvet skin, snow-white hands, light chestnut wavy hair – all this contradicted the assumptions of the people.
Mr. Binder was the mayor of the city, he thinks that the young man was a victim of a crime. Interest in him began to grow, crowds gather for him to stare. Most of all, teacher Daumer is interested in him, he sits with him for a long time and accustoms him to the human language, learns about his past. However, the young man still can not answer questions about his parents, and about who kept him in prison. Teacher Daumer summarized all observations and after published an article in the print edition, where he noted the purity of the heart and soul of the young man and made the assumption that he was of noble origin. Daumer’s findings alarmed some managers and the city council of Nuremberg, including his head, baron von Tuher, who decides to write to the president of the Court of Appeal Feuerbach, who is a state councilor
There was a note in the house of Daumer that precautions about future troubles. The teacher was frightened and told everyone in the police, and that in turn to the Court of Appeal. From the district administration to the city council of Nuremberg, there are instructions that say to strengthen the surveillance of Kaspar, since they think that the young man is hiding something. Kaspar at this time learns a lot about the world around him, and he increasingly begins to dream. As Caspar told Daumer that he very often sees in his dreams a beautiful woman, a palace and some other things that worry him, and when he begins to think about them, he immediately becomes sad. He constantly remembers this lady, and assumes that she is his mother. The teacher tries to dissuade the youth, that this is only a dream, that is, events in it have no relation to real life.
Binder and Daumer write to Feuerbach a letter in which they say that to dream of Kaspar and what he feels. Feuerbach writes in response that the young man began to engage in horse riding and more often go out into the fresh air. At the next meeting, Feuerbach presents a beautiful notebook to a young man, in which he begins to write down his thoughts. The society is still following closely the life of Caspar, the noble family often calls him to visit. Once the teacher accompanied Kaspar when he met an important foreign citizen Stanhope, after this meeting, Daumer began to doubt his pupil. After this meeting, Daumer began to follow the boy more attentively, he tried with all his might to convict him of lying. It was very unpleasant to hear Kaspar’s refusal to ask Daumer to read his diary. Caspar continues to be in sorrow, he is still thoughtful. Once Caspar walked around the house in the garden, there he saw a stranger whose face was covered with a cloth. The stranger approached the boy and hit him in the head with a knife. The police never found this criminal.
Feuerbach collected all the facts together, and began to write a report for the king, in which he writes that Kaspar Hauser is the heir of noble nobles, but he was stolen from his parents’ home by the infant so that another could become heir. In this exposure, Feuerbach points to specific people and writes about other details of the case. In reply to this letter, which came from the King’s office, Feuerbach was ordered to remain silent until everything became fully known. Daumer was very frightened of the attempt on his ward and made Kaspar move.
Kaspar has a guardian named Bachold. She was voracious, too energetic, Bachold tried to seduce the young man. However, he frightened away from her harassment, she accused Kaspar of indecent behavior with her daughter. Caspar is worn out and dreams of leaving this house. After Mr. von Tuchen appreciated the situation, he decided to become the next guardian of Caspar. The house at Tucher was quiet and boring, the owner of the house was not talkative and very strict, and therefore communicated with him very rarely. Caspar sad, he seeks sincere affection, and she again feels bad forebodings.
One day Kaspar received a letter, and with him a gift in the form of an expensive ring with a diamond. The letter was written by Lord Henry Stapph, who will soon arrive in the city and go on a visit to Kaspar. Stephoppe was surprised by the joyful reception of Caspar, moreover, the young man wanted to talk with his guest. Caspar was glad that Staphop wanted to take him with him to show the world. In addition, he is going to take the young man to his mother in a distant country. They began to meet often, talk and walk. Stanhope asks the magistrate to appoint him as the guardian of Caspar. The magistrate in return asks for a document that proves his well-being. In addition, the city authorities begin to follow Stanhope, and Feuerbach commands to make inquiries about him. To become universally known is the faultless past of Stapph, before the lord was a mediator in unclean matters, the fishers of the souls of people. The Lord does not receive permission to be a guardian, he leaves, but communicates to the young man to return. During their communication, he managed to reassure Caspar about his future greatness.
Stanhope arrives in Ansbach after a while and skillfully disposes of all the members of the city society and Feuerbach. He receives a note in which he is told to burn the document, but before that remove a copy from it. Stanhope worries when the policeman Kinkel offers his services for help, and behaves as if he knows what the lord is going to do. Stanhope persuades Feuerbach to transport the young man to Ansbach from Nuremberg. Caspar stopped at the teacher Quant. He still often meets with Stanhope, but he is not as pleased and easy to talk with him: sometimes he feels fear in his presence. This same feeling arises when Kinkel arrives and at a time when Kvant aggressively teaches him. Feuerbach is still interested in young men and publishes a small book about him, where he directly writes about the criminalities in the history of the young man. He is going to secretly find the culprit of the crime. Kinkel leads a double game, he disposes of Feuerbach and he manages to be near him during this trip.
Caspar often happens to Frau von Imhof, she communicated very well with Feuerbach. Once he meets there with Clara Cannavurf, quite a beautiful and young woman with a dramatic past. When Kinkel is absent, another supervisor must watch the young man. The soldier does his job very tactfully, he gets to Kaspar sympathy. It’s all because he read a book about Caspar. When a young man asks him to find Countess Stephanie in some other principality, he immediately agrees. At this time in Ansbach learn about the imminent demise of Feuerbach. His daughter is almost sure that his father was poisoned, and this is due to his secret investigation. Stanhope is also not going to return to the young man: he somewhere far away committed suicide. Clara von Cannavurf tried to amuse Kaspar with all her might, but she could not. He begins to fall in love with him, but understands,
After some time, a stranger comes to the young man with knowledge of the court and says that he is from his mother, and “my prince” refers to him. The gentleman says that tomorrow he will wait for him in the garden near the palace with the crew, where he is going to show Kaspar a sign from his mother, who will prove that he, in fact, was sent to her. This night, Caspar sees a dream that adds anxiety to the young man, but he does not change his decision. At the appointed time and place he comes, there he is given a bag in which there is a sign from his mother. While the young man untying this bag, I hit him with a knife into the heart area. Caspar is mortally wounded, after that he lives for several more days, and then dies.
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