XLV
Two months after his arrival in Pfeiffering, Nepomuk Schneidewein comes down with cerebrospinal meningitis, an affliction closely related to the symptoms suffered by patients with tertiary neurosyphilis. He dies soon after amidst horrible pains. In a conversation with Z., L. takes responsibility for these events, identifying them as the means by which the devil is punishing him for transgressing against his obligation not to love. He darkly vows to compose a work that will “take back” the Ninth Symphony. At the same time, however, he expresses his conviction that Nepomuk will enter into heaven and be forever beyond reach of dark forces.
Time of composition: December 2–11, 1946 (the chapter was originally part of XLIV). Time of narration: Late March 1945. Narrated time: 1928.
| Sniffles now dulled the sweet clarity of his eyes | As was his custom, TM consulted with a doctor to create the following detailed and medically accurate account of the progression of cerebrospinal meningitis. |
| “There’s something about it that’s not quite right” | The original German for “not quite right” is nicht ganz geheuer, an adjectival phrase that is commonly used to refer to supernatural phenomena. L.’s reaction shows that he is catching on to the fact that Echo’s illness may be a consequence of the devil’s pact, which prohibits L. from loving anyone. |
| “I had thought […] that He would permit it” | A reference to the interdiction to love, as discussed in chapter XXV. |
| “I shall take it back […] The Ninth Symphony” | Throughout the course of DF (and especially in chapter XXII), L. has described his intentions to somehow “correct” the course of musical history that was set into motion by Beethoven’s late work. Here now, he links musical history explicitly to social progress, choosing as his central symbol the Ninth Symphony, whose jubilant final choral movement not only revolutionized classical music, but also clearly vocalizes Enlightenment ideology. |
| it was good still to see some reflective blackness | Nepomuk’s azure eyes have turned black, bringing to an end the color game started on 26/39. Schwerdtfeger’s blue eyes, of course, were already extinguished in chapter XLII. |
| “Then to the elements […] fare thou well.” | The lines with which Prospero sets Ariel free in V.1 of The Tempest. The lines are in English in the original as well. |