Erich Maria Remarque, "The Black Obelisk": a brief summary, the main characters

After 30 years, EM Remarque will look back. The Black Obelisk is a work of thought about the Weimar Republic. The novel was written in 1956 about events and people of 1923. He is very good for the present moment. Inflation, insecurity in the future, nationalistic and fascist moods are sad signs of the present time. Erich Maria Remarque his books fills with irony and humor, which save him and the reader from the pressing feeling of anguish. This is a way of self-defense, instead of a meaningless cry for salvation.

Thirty years later

Remarque's heroes return to his youth when he, like the protagonist, worked as a teacher, played on the organ, for some time sold tombstones, watched the fascist thugs raise their heads, as they gradually gain strength. The main character is Ludwig Bodmer. He serves in an office selling gravestones from his friend, whom they ate from one bowl at the front, George Krol. Both make every effort to keep the company afloat in the conditions of hyperinflation, when the rate changes several times during the day, until the exchange closes. With these money you can at least light a cigarette, which makes the main character, so they are devalued. Money could then be weighed. Remarque remembers this well. The "Black Obelisk" gives a clear idea of the complete impoverishment of some and the other people who have crawled out on speculation. Brothers live one day. But in those conditions it is impossible, even, rather, absurd, to make any plans. They have to contrive to buy goods cheaper, playing bills. To this game, they have a little adapted, but how long will it last?

One of the romance lines of the novel

Georg Krol priudaril for the beauty of a neighbor, who gladly displays in the window in broad daylight all her charms. She is not averse to twisting the novel, since the butcher husband does not interest her at all. She married him because she simply did not have enough money for food. Husband, having learned, as always, with a great delay about the betrayal of his wife, with whom he is not yet going to part, harbored evil on Georg. He will divorce his wife, but it will happen later. And while Vatsek, the name of the deceived husband, sympathizes with the Fuhrer, and at the first opportunity he finds a way to take revenge on Georg. Many years later, when the National Socialists come to power, Vacek will be able to send George to the concentration camp. There George Krol, who miraculously survived the war, will perish.

Love of Heaven

One salary can not be lived. Therefore, the main character Remarque Sends to the psychiatric hospital to play on Sundays on the organ. A girl with a split consciousness, Genevieve, Isabella herself calls herself, and then she is beautiful, then Jenny. When she takes the second image, it changes even externally, and her beauty disappears, and she becomes cunning and spiteful. Isabella never calls Ludwig his real name. Depending on her mood, she gives him the name of Rolf or Rudolph. She was irresponsibly in love with Rudolph before she got to the hospital. Isabella is a fata morgana, sensitive to all manifestations of life. She leads long conversations about her meaning with Ludwig, about poetry, about the moon.

Sudden transformation

But, suddenly recovered, she forgets everything. And the conversation, and the feeling that arises between them. The well-bred girl listens in perplexity to Ludwig and politely thanks for a good game on the organ. And that's all. For Ludwig, it's a shock. Having withdrawn from Ludwig, this young wealthy Fraulein simply does not recognize him. He is a stranger to her. Recovery Isabella is tragic for Ludwig - the girl he loved, for him almost dies. So shows the failed love Remarque. "Black obelisk" is a novel where everything is twofold.

Earthly Love

But, in addition to Isabella, Ludwig Bodmer took a great interest in the gymnast Gerda Schneider who came to their town. Their romance is full of tenderness, but it has no continuation. Gerda is a clear and strong happiness for a while. This is understandable to both. She is a practical girl. From the poet, who can not give anything to her, she leaves for the wealthy master of the restaurant. Ludwig Bodmer does not need to stay in the town anymore. He is invited to work as a journalist in Berlin. He leaves to return when the war with fascism is over.

Return

During the war, Ludwig was not in Germany. But he returned after her and visited the town of his youth. Almost no one he met, and the city lay in ruins. For memory, Ludwig bought only old postcards, although he did not differ in sentimentality. So ends Remarque "The Black Obelisk". It remains an open question, as the main character will continue to live. Apparently, will continue to seek true love. Thus, the farewell visit to the provincial town ends with the novel "Black Obelisk", the summary of which is set out above.

Ludwig Bodmer

It refers to the generation that is usually called "lost." It fell into the meat grinder of Verdun and gas attacks and nothing, except for the school bench and the tools of murder, in his youth did not see. The main character of the novel, the idealist Ludwig Bodmer, like many other characters of Remarque's works, has somehow adapted to a peaceful life. But it has adapted. His friend and owner of the funeral home still screams at night when he dreams of the scene of the war. Ludwig was unable to fulfill his mother's promise and become a teacher. To exist in the wilderness without front-line comrades, he does not know how. It is impossible to live a full-fledged human life. He can not find the beloved. So, neither love, nor family life in Ludwig Bodmer does not add up. And what is left? Confrontation with those who dream of reviving Germany, see its dominance over the world. But "Ludwigs" are divided, and with the force that covers their homeland, they are not allowed to cope. They can go away and fight against fascism from afar, as the hero of the novel did. This is their maximum.

"Black obelisk": reviews

In the readers' reviews, the author's ability to convey the spirit of the era is admired. The humiliated, poor, confused Germany is shown absolutely reliably. In a country full of bedlam. There are no spiritual values. The old disappeared, and the new ones did not yet appear. The "Black Obelisk" is also read as a historical novel showing the shaky economy of the country, and as a psychological thing. And also it is a literary classics and philosophical prose. Ludwig Bodmer seems to the readers to be absolutely positive, having no flaws. And the places of his work, the funeral home and the madhouse, do not bother the readers. Ludwig, and this is considered natural, is not lucky in love, for he is poor. And all who are around him, are convinced that there is no love at all. There is only a sensual attraction. You just need to catch the moment. A romanticist and philosopher does not want to live and can not. Do not like the images of women, because painted only black and white paint, somehow predatory and greedy for pleasure. The book, according to readers, is written with sadness and humor.

Black obelisk: quotes

• Money is an illusion; Everyone knows this, but many still can not believe it.
• There is a grand sale of honest incomes, savings, decency.
• What you can not get is always better than what you have.
• Doubt is the reverse side of faith.
• A rich speculator is more desirable than a decent but poor servant.

History of the creation of the novel

By 1951 Remarque's creative life was suspended. And then he meets Paulette Goddard. Six years later they become husband and wife. Leaving the United States, they travel a lot in Europe, and then return to the house of Remarque in Switzerland, in Porto Ronco. At this time, Erich Maria Remarque, whose books sold out in huge editions around the world, began work on a new work. The inspiration has come, and the work is moving quickly. The plot line is the most simple. It has little dynamics. "Black obelisk" is a novel-meditation. As usual, the writer reflects on eternal questions, about the meaning of life, about love, the war through which his heroes passed. They do not know how to live, but they have always tried to preserve human relations. In ten years, this time will be replaced by a rampage of insanity, which the world has never known. Germs of this phenomenon shows Remarque in the "Black Obelisk".