Die Ursache: Erzählung

A novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers on Anton Seiler, a struggling poet who returns to his hometown after spending fourteen years in Berlin, plagued by memories of humiliation from his youth. The narrative explores themes of past trauma, identity, and the impact of childhood experiences on adult life. The opening of the novel introduces Anton as he feels an inexplicable urge to visit his childhood home, a journey laden with psychological weight. As he travels, his thoughts drift back to painful memories, particularly involving a teacher named Mager, who embodies the source of his past torments. Upon arriving in his hometown, Anton is confronted with mixed emotions and memories that intertwine his current life with significant events from his past. The tension builds as he grapples with those memories, hinting at deeper conflicts that may eventually lead him to commit a desperate act in response to his unresolved feelings of resentment and anger.