# XII: Farewell explained — Sartor Resartus

> Chapter companion for Sartor Resartus by Thomas Carlyle.

## What happens

The Editor concludes his work on Teufelsdröckh's Clothes-Volume, reflecting on the Professor's enigmatic nature, his departure from Weissnichtwo, and the possibility that he has gone to London. The Editor bids farewell to his readers and to the figure of Teufelsdröckh, acknowledging the strange and often frustrating journey they have shared.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Role of the Artist and Thinker

The Editor questions Teufelsdröckh's choice of style and medium, suggesting a desperate or prophetic impulse behind his work.

### Spiritual Crisis and Faith

Teufelsdröckh's beacon-fire in the 'Night of the World' and his call for unity against Hypocrisy and Atheism reflect a spiritual struggle.

### Critique of Society and Materialism

The Editor criticizes Teufelsdröckh's 'rummaging among lumber-rooms' and 'scraping in kennels,' while also noting his defiance of Cant and Dilettantism.

## Character check-ins

### Diogenes Teufelsdröckh

The Professor has disappeared from Weissnichtwo, possibly to London; the Editor reflects on his character and legacy.

### The Editor

The Editor concludes his compilation, expresses mixed feelings about Teufelsdröckh, and bids farewell to readers.

### Herr Hofrath Heuschrecke

Heuschrecke sends a letter reporting Teufelsdröckh's disappearance and speculating on its causes.

### Old Lieschen

Mentioned as affecting deafness and ignorance regarding Teufelsdröckh's whereabouts.

## Key lines

> How could a man occasionally of keen insight, not without keen sense of propriety, who had real Thoughts to communicate, resolve to emit them in a shape bordering so closely on the absurd?

The Editor wonders why a perceptive and thoughtful person like Teufelsdröckh would choose such a ridiculous style to express his ideas.

_Reflects the Editor's struggle to understand Teufelsdröckh's method._

> It is the Night of the World, and still long till it be Day: we wander amid the glimmer of smoking ruins, and the Sun and the Stars of Heaven are as if blotted out for a season; and two immeasurable Phantoms, Hypocrisy and Atheism, with the Gowl, Sensuality, stalk abroad over the Earth, and call it theirs

Teufelsdröckh describes a dark age where truth is obscured and falsehood and sensuality dominate.

_Highlights the spiritual crisis theme and Teufelsdröckh's apocalyptic vision._

> How were Friendship possible? In mutual devotedness to the Good and True: otherwise impossible; except as Armed Neutrality, or hollow Commercial League.

True friendship requires shared commitment to goodness and truth; otherwise it is merely a strategic or transactional arrangement.

_Teufelsdröckh's view on the basis of genuine human connection._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sartor_resartus_se/chapters/xii-farewell
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sartor_resartus_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/sartor_resartus_se/chapters