Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler · Chapter
V explained
Wenk stalks a suspect through Munich's streets and into a theatre, only to lose him.
What happens
Wenk stalks a suspect through Munich's streets and into a theatre, only to lose him. Meanwhile, Mabuse travels toward the Austrian frontier, meeting his accomplices Spoerri and Pesch, and later drunkenly raves about his empire Citopomar, ordering the murder of Hull.
Themes in this chapter
Power and Control
Mabuse's drunken monologue reveals his desire for absolute rule over his empire Citopomar, where his word is law and he commands life and death.
Obsession and Destruction
Wenk's obsessive pursuit of the sandy-bearded man, and Mabuse's destructive drunken rage leading to orders for murder.
Deception and Disguise
Wenk disguises himself as a chauffeur; the sandy-bearded man changes appearance; Mabuse's car lights are extinguished to evade detection.
Gambling and Addiction
Mabuse's alcohol addiction is depicted as a creative and destructive force, a 'liquid gold' that fuels his fantasies.
Characters to notice
- Herr von Wenk
Disguised as his own chauffeur, Wenk surveils gaming-houses and pursues a sandy-bearded man through Munich, eventually losing him in a theatre.
- Dr. Mabuse
Travels by car toward the Austrian frontier, meets Spoerri and Pesch, drinks heavily, and drunkenly orders Hull's murder while dreaming of his empire Citopomar.
- Spoerri
Mabuse's courier; meets Mabuse on the road, is forced to drink until unconscious, and later fawns on Mabuse after being struck.
- Hull
Mabuse drunkenly orders his murder, giving his address as 34, Hubertusstrasse.
- Pesch
A smuggler who arrives late to meet Mabuse on the road near Lindau.
- George Strümpfli
Mentioned as George; Mabuse calls for him to bring bigger glasses and later tells him he is going to bed.
- Cara Carozza
Mabuse mentions that 'the Carozza girl' can help with Hull's murder.
Key passages
“It was he, the sandy-bearded man! He had his back turned and was buying cigars, but it was certainly he!”
Wenk spots the sandy-bearded man buying cigars in a tobacconist's shop.
Wenk's identification of his quarry.
“There his word alone would be law. There, in Citopomar, the dream of his boyhood would be fulfilled”
Mabuse dreams of a Brazilian empire where he is absolute ruler.
Mabuse's fantasy of Citopomar.
“Away with him, his turn first. George will look after it, and you can help him. The Carozza girl can contrive it.”
Mabuse orders the murder of Hull, assigning the task to George, Spoerri, and Cara Carozza.
Mabuse's drunken command to kill Hull.