Short Fiction · Chapter
A Zwanziger Is a Zwanziger explained
Frau Frohmann faces economic rebellion from her neighbors and former employees in the valley, who abandon her for higher wages and prices offered by a rival trader from Innsbruck.
What happens
Frau Frohmann faces economic rebellion from her neighbors and former employees in the valley, who abandon her for higher wages and prices offered by a rival trader from Innsbruck. She responds by reopening her own dairy and cutting ties with those she had previously supported, but the strain affects her business and her sense of pride and community standing.
Themes in this chapter
Economic Hardship and Charity
Frau Frohmann's struggle to maintain her business and her sense of betrayal by those she helped financially underscores the tension between charity and economic self-interest.
Morality and Hypocrisy
The Frau perceives a lack of faith and principle among her neighbors, who abandon her for small gains, while she herself must navigate the moral compromises of running a business.
Characters to notice
- Frau Frohmann
The Frau is distressed by the ingratitude of her neighbors and former employees, who are lured away by higher pay. She reopens her own dairy and struggles with the loss of respect and community support.
- Suse Krapp
Suse Krapp, an old friend and supplier of wild fruits, is confronted by Frau Frohmann about the betrayal. She leaves without the customary kirsch-wasser after the quarrel.
- Seppel
Seppel the carpenter gives notice to leave Frau Frohmann's service to join his brother Anton in the huckstering business, despite past kindness from the Frau.
- Peter
Peter, Frau Frohmann's son, advises his mother to give way on prices, but she rebuffs him fiercely.
- Schlessen
Schlessen is acquainted with Frau Frohmann's finances and believes she will not be ruined, though she may lose money. He is patient and lets things take their course.
- Mr. Cartwright
An English guest at the Peacock who comments on the weather and is on friendly terms with Frau Frohmann, though she is somewhat in awe of him.
Key passages
“There was an ingratitude in all this which nearly broke her heart. It seemed to her that those to whom in their difficulties she had been most kind were now turning upon her in her difficulty.”
Frau Frohmann feels heartbroken by the ingratitude of people she helped in the past, who now abandon her in her own time of need.
Highlights the theme of economic hardship and charity.
“If we are to be severed, we will be severed. It goes sadly against the grain with me, as I have a heart in my bosom.”
Frau Frohmann declares that if a break is necessary, she will accept it, though it pains her because she cares deeply.
Shows her determination and emotional conflict.
“Nothing is so enfeebling as failure; but she, hitherto, had never failed. Now a new sensation had fallen upon her, by which at certain periods she was almost prostrated.”
The Frau, who had always succeeded before, now experiences the weakening effect of failure for the first time.
Illustrates her personal struggle with loss of status.