The Adventurous Simplicissimus · Chapter
How Simplicissimus Wasted His Spring in the Wrong Place explained
Simplicissimus encounters a group of peasants in the Muckenloch wood, who initially treat him with suspicion and debate his identity.
What happens
Simplicissimus encounters a group of peasants in the Muckenloch wood, who initially treat him with suspicion and debate his identity. He tells their fortunes to gain their trust, but later discovers he has been lying in a mineral spring he had sought. The peasants fear the spring will bring forced labor from their lord, and they argue over whether to keep it or have him remove it. Simplicissimus ultimately leaves with two guides, cursing the loss of his hopes, and returns to his farm weary and empty-handed.
Themes in this chapter
Folly and Wisdom
Simplicissimus's foolishness in wasting his efforts on the spring and his realization of the folly of his actions highlight the theme.
Greed and Money
The peasants' fear of losing potential profit from the spring to an innkeeper and their refusal to reveal it for fear of economic burden illustrate greed and self-interest.
Characters to notice
- Simplicissimus
Tells fortunes to peasants, discovers the mineral spring, and argues with the peasants before departing.
Key passages
“I found so much courtesy among them that they invited me to sit down and offered me a piece of black bread and thin cow’s milk cheese, both of which I did thankfully accept.”
They were polite enough to invite me to sit and share their simple meal of black bread and cheese, which I gratefully ate.
Simplicissimus describes the initial hospitality of the peasants.
“At last they became so familiar with me that they hinted I should, as a travelling scholar, tell their fortunes: and I, knowing somewhat of physiognomies and palmistry, began to tell to one after the other such stuff as I deemed would content them, that I might not lose credit with them; for in spite of all I was not at my ease among these wild woodmen.”
Eventually they grew bold enough to ask me, as a wandering scholar, to read their fortunes. Using my slight knowledge of faces and palms, I told them whatever I thought would keep them happy, since I felt uneasy among these rough woodsmen.
Simplicissimus uses fortune-telling to ingratiate himself with the suspicious peasants.
“O horrors! now was Troy lost and all my splendid plans gone to naught, for by the smell I perceived ’twas mine own mineral spring.”
Horror! My great plans were ruined, because the smell told me I had been lying in the very mineral spring I was seeking.
Simplicissimus realizes his mistake in wasting the spring's discovery.
“Ye godless rogues... by this spring that welleth forth where I have lain ye well may see who I am; it were small wonder if I should so trounce ye all that the devil should fetch ye, because ye have dared to cherish such evil thoughts in your hearts.”
You wicked scoundrels! This spring that has appeared where I lay proves who I am. It would be no surprise if I beat you all so badly that the devil takes you, for harboring such evil suspicions.
Simplicissimus angrily confronts the peasants after discovering the spring.
“Nay, thought I, ’tis better to lose the spring than one’s life, and that thou canst easily forfeit if thou attack these clowns.”
I thought it wiser to give up the spring than risk my life, which I would surely lose if I fought these peasants.
Simplicissimus decides to avoid violence for self-preservation.
“But at last they disagreed: for two were for keeping the spring and four demanded of me that I should take it away; which, had it been in my power, I had willingly done whether it pleased them or teased them.”
In the end, they argued: two wanted to keep the spring, while four insisted I remove it. If I could have, I would have gladly done so, regardless of their wishes.
The peasants are divided over what to do about the spring.