# How Simplicissimus All Unawares Was Made a Married Man explained — The Adventurous Simplicissimus

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

## What happens

Simplicissimus, lodging opposite a lieutenant-colonel, becomes infatuated with his beautiful daughter. He feigns love and gains entry to the house through a Three Kings' Eve lottery, eventually becoming a familiar and teaching her the lute. Despite his initial lack of serious intent, he pursues her ardently, but she insists on honorable marriage. Caught in bed with her by her father at dawn, he is forced to marry her on the spot, then expelled from the house.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance

Simplicissimus feigns love and uses false sighs and amorous letters to deceive the maiden and her family, only to be caught in his own trap.

### Fortune and Fate

The lucky star of the Three Kings leads Simplicissimus to the house, and his fate is sealed by the chance drawing of lots and the subsequent forced marriage.

### Folly and Wisdom

Simplicissimus's foolish courtship and lack of serious intent lead to his entrapment, while the maiden's prudence and insistence on marriage ultimately prevail.

## Character check-ins

### Simplicissimus

Narrator and protagonist; feigns love for the colonel's daughter, is caught in bed with her, and forced into marriage.

### The Huntsman of Soest

Simplicissimus is living under this alias in the chapter, lodging opposite the lieutenant-colonel.

## Key lines

> Now over against my lodging there dwelt a lieutenant-colonel on half-pay, and the same had a very fair daughter of noble carriage, whose acquaintance I had long desired to make.

Across from where I lived was a retired lieutenant-colonel with a beautiful, well-bred daughter I had wanted to meet for a long time.

_Introduces the setting and Simplicissimus's initial interest._

> But the lucky star which first brought me to her was even that one which the scholars wear at a certain season, in everlasting remembrance of how the three wise men were by such a star led to Bethlehem, and I took it for a good omen that such a star led me to her dwelling also.

The fortunate star that first led me to her was the same one scholars wear to remember the three wise men following the star to Bethlehem, and I saw it as a good sign that it guided me to her home.

_Simplicissimus interprets the Epiphany star as a favorable omen for his courtship._

> So were we married by the said clergyman, sitting up in bed, and the ceremony over, were forced to rise and to leave the house.

We were married by the parson while still sitting in bed, and after the ceremony we had to get up and leave the house immediately.

_Describes the forced marriage and immediate expulsion._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se/chapters/xxi-how-simplicissimus-all-unawares-was-made-a-married-man
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se/chapters