The Conflict with God and Fate

Hunger

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Questioning of God

The Questioning of God The Injustice of Suffering Sitting in the park, the protagonist wonders why God has singled him out for persecution. He argues that he is no worse than others, like Bookseller Pascha or Steam Agent Hennechen. The Parable of the Finger He imagines God sticking his finger into the net of his nerves, causing a gaping hole. He uses biblical language, mocking the idea of divine providence. The Defiance He tells God that He is making a mistake if He thinks suffering will make him better. He is defiant, almost crying.

The Blasphemy in the Passage

The Blasphemy in the Passage The Curse After failing to keep down the bone, the protagonist curses God with a ferocious tirade. He calls God a 'Gracious Monster on High,' a 'Heavenly Baal' who does not exist. He renounces all works and pomps, and bids farewell for eternity. The Exhaustion After the outburst, he is exhausted. He stands trembling, his anger spent. The curse is a last defiance before his collapse. The Aftermath He does not feel any relief. The emptiness remains. His rebellion is futile.

The Moment of Gratitude

The Moment of Gratitude The Successful Morning When he writes a story that is accepted, he kneels by his bed and thanks God. He believes the inspiration was a miracle. The Brief Faith For a moment, he feels that God has answered his cry. He weeps with enthusiasm. The Ironic Turn Later, the success is followed by more failure. His faith wavers. He oscillates between gratitude and bitterness.

Part I

Part IV

Part I, morning