# Of the Homecoming and Departure of This Worshipful Student, and How He Sought to Obtain Advancement in the Wars explained — The Adventurous Simplicissimus

> Chapter companion for The Adventurous Simplicissimus by Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen.

## What happens

Oliver returns home to his father, who is disappointed in his son's spoiled and quarrelsome nature. After a heated argument, Oliver steals a horse from his father's farm and rides to Cologne, where he sells it and joins a band of thieves. When one of his companions is publicly punished, Oliver enlists as a soldier. His father tries to buy him out, but Oliver refuses, and the colonel, learning of his wealth, sets a high price. Oliver becomes the colonel's writer and aspires to rise in rank, but when young Herzbruder is favored for a secretary position, Oliver plots against him. With the Provost's advice, Oliver steals a cup and frames Herzbruder, leading to Herzbruder's dismissal.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance

Oliver pretends to be a reformed man while plotting against Herzbruder, and the Provost advises a deceitful scheme to frame Herzbruder.

### Greed and Money

Oliver's desire for promotion and wealth drives him to steal, enlist, and conspire against Herzbruder.

### Folly and Wisdom

Oliver's father laments his son's foolishness, and Oliver's own schemes show a lack of wisdom, leading to moral compromise.

## Character check-ins

### Oliver

Narrates his homecoming, quarrel with his father, theft of a horse, enlistment, and plot against Herzbruder.

### Ulrich Herzbruder

Young Herzbruder is favored by the colonel and is the target of Oliver's plot, leading to his dismissal.

### The Provost Marshal

The Provost advises Oliver to frame Herzbruder by stealing a cup and giving it to him.

## Key lines

> But when my father had me safely home, he found I was in very truth spoiled. I had proved no worshipful dominie as he had hoped, but a quarreller and a braggart, that imagined he knew everything.

When I returned home, my father realized I was thoroughly corrupted—not the respectable scholar he had hoped for, but a quarrelsome braggart who thought he knew everything.

_Oliver's father's disappointment upon seeing his son's true character._

> So hardly was I warm at home when he said to me, ‘Hearken, Oliver, I do see thine asses’ ears a-growing fast: thou beest a useless cumberer of the ground, a rogue that will never be worth aught...’

No sooner had I settled in than he told me, 'Listen, Oliver, I see your foolishness growing; you are a useless burden, a rogue who will never amount to anything.'

_Oliver's father scolds him harshly for his behavior._

> Yet because young Herzbruder was beloved by our colonel and was preferred to me, I purposed to have him out of the way, specially because I was sure the colonel would give him the secretary’s place.

But because young Herzbruder was the colonel's favorite and was chosen over me, I decided to eliminate him, especially since I was certain the colonel would appoint him as secretary.

_Oliver's jealousy and plan to remove Herzbruder from his path._

## Links

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