The Adventurous Simplicissimus · Chapter
How Simplicissimus Rode Courier and in the Likeness of Mercury Learned from Jove What His Design Was as Regards War and Peace explained
Simplicissimus, after Herzbruder's recovery from poisoning, travels to Strasbourg and then to Cologne disguised as a post-rider.
What happens
Simplicissimus, after Herzbruder's recovery from poisoning, travels to Strasbourg and then to Cologne disguised as a post-rider. He visits Jupiter, who rants about war and peace, revealing his disdain for humanity's greed. Simplicissimus then goes to Lippstadt, where he learns of his wife's death and meets his son, Simplicissimus the younger, but keeps his identity hidden. He returns to the spa after being robbed.
Themes in this chapter
War and Destruction
Jupiter's speech highlights the devastation of war and humanity's profit from it, while Simplicissimus faces personal loss due to the conflict.
Greed and Money
Jupiter criticizes those who profit from war, and Simplicissimus's in-laws seize his money at Cologne.
Deception and Appearance
Simplicissimus disguises himself multiple times, and his pock-pitted face prevents recognition.
Characters to notice
- Simplicissimus
Disguises himself as a post-rider and later as a beggar; learns of his wife's death and meets his son.
- Ulrich Herzbruder
Recovering from poisoning at the spa; gives Simplicissimus trinkets for his wife.
- Jupiter
Rants about war and peace, refusing to grant peace due to humanity's greed and lack of repentance.
- Herr von Schönstein
Recognizes Simplicissimus but keeps his identity secret.
Key passages
“O Mercury, what news from Münster? Do men conceive they can make peace without my good will? Nay, never! they did have peace. Why kept they it not? Was not vice everywhere triumphant when they provoked me to send them war?”
Jupiter asks Mercury if people think they can make peace without his approval, noting that they had peace but lost it due to their vices.
Jupiter's rant reflects his divine anger and the theme of war and destruction.
“I got me a pass for a post-rider of Strasbourg, and drew up certain letters to my wife, her sisters, and her parents, as I would send him with them to Lippstadt: yet feigned to be of a different mind, took back the pass from the messenger, sent back my horse and servant, and disguised myself in a red and white livery.”
Simplicissimus obtained a pass as a post-rider, wrote letters to his family, but then changed his plan, dismissed the messenger, and disguised himself in a red and white uniform.
Shows Simplicissimus's cunning and use of deception for safe travel.
“my nose and the child’s began at once and together to bleed, till I thought my heart would break: yet did I hide my feelings, and that none might have time to mark the cause of this sympathy, I took myself off at once”
When Simplicissimus kissed his son, both their noses bled simultaneously, a sign of their bond, but he hid his emotions and quickly left.
Emotional moment highlighting the theme of innocence and experience.