# XX: How He Gave the Faithful Priest Other Fish to Fry, to Cause Him to Forget His Own Hoggish Life explained — The Adventurous Simplicissimus

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

## What happens

Simplicissimus, seeking to avoid the pastor's scrutiny of his immoral life, engages the priest in a theological debate about which religion is true, pretending to be a seeker of truth to distract him from his own vices.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance

Simplicissimus deliberately lies about his religious doubts to manipulate the pastor and conceal his own immoral conduct.

### Religion and Morality

The chapter centers on a debate about true religion and salvation, while Simplicissimus uses it as a pretext to avoid moral accountability.

## Character check-ins

### Simplicissimus

The narrator and protagonist, who cunningly deceives the pastor to avoid being admonished for his lecherous behavior.

### The Huntsman of Soest

Implied as the identity Simplicissimus is using while in the fortress, as he refers to his time in Soest.

## Key lines

> Yet was I not so drowned in lust nor so dull as not to take care to keep all men’s affection so long as I was minded to sojourn in that fortress, that is, till winter was over.

I was not so lost in pleasure that I forgot to stay in everyone's good graces while I planned to remain in the fortress until winter ended.

_Simplicissimus explains his strategic concern for maintaining social harmony._

> I put on my considering cap, and the very next day I betook myself hotfoot to the said pastor, and told him in fine words such a heap of lies, how I had resolved to follow his advice, that he, as I could see from his carriage, was heartily rejoiced thereat.

I thought carefully and then hurried to the pastor, telling him a pack of lies about how I intended to follow his advice, which made him very happy.

_Simplicissimus deliberately deceives the pastor to gain his favor._

> I will sooner keep off the roads altogether than take the wrong one: besides, there be yet other religions besides these here in Europe, as those of the Armenians, the Abyssinians, the Greeks, the Georgians, and so forth, and whichsoever I do choose, then must I with my fellow believers deny all the rest.

I would rather avoid choosing a religion entirely than pick the wrong one, especially since there are many other faiths in the world, and whichever I choose would require me to reject all others.

_Simplicissimus feigns a broad-minded skepticism to avoid committing to the pastor's religion._

> And so can the reader judge what a godless, wicked rogue I then was: for I did but give the good pastor fruitless trouble, that he might leave me undisturbed in my vicious life, and thinks I, 'Before thou art ready with thy proofs I shall belike be where the pepper grows.'

Thus the reader can see how wicked I was: I only gave the pastor pointless work so he would stop bothering me about my sinful life, thinking that by the time he had his proofs, I would be far away.

_Simplicissimus admits his manipulation and anticipates escaping the pastor's influence._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se/chapters/xx-how-he-gave-the-faithful-priest-other-fish-to-fry-to-cause-him-to-forget-his-own-hoggish-life
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