The Adventurous Simplicissimus · Chapter
How Oliver Bit the Dust and Took Six Good Men with Him explained
Oliver and Simplicissimus rest in a hut after their exploits.
What happens
Oliver and Simplicissimus rest in a hut after their exploits. Oliver reveals a large sum of gold he has been carrying, and Simplicissimus helps him repack it into knapsacks. Seven musketeers attack them, but Oliver and Simplicissimus fight back, killing six of them. Oliver is killed in the fight. Simplicissimus takes Oliver's gold and weapons, then leaves to find the peasant who had been sent for supplies.
Themes in this chapter
Greed and Money
Oliver's obsession with his gold, which he carries on his body causing sores, and Simplicissimus's decision to take the gold from Oliver's corpse highlight the corrupting and dangerous power of wealth.
War and Destruction
The sudden attack by the musketeers and the violent deaths of seven men in a brief skirmish illustrate the constant threat of violence and destruction during wartime.
Characters to notice
- Simplicissimus
Helps Oliver repack his gold, fights alongside him against the musketeers, and after Oliver's death takes his gold and weapons.
- Oliver
Reveals his hidden gold to Simplicissimus, fights valiantly against the musketeers, but is killed in the battle.
Key passages
“Oliver sent the peasant out to buy food and also powder and shot.”
Oliver dispatched the peasant to purchase provisions and ammunition.
Shows the reliance on local peasants for supplies.
“I took up the two sausages and found they were indeed mighty heavy, being gold pieces only.”
I picked up the two sausage-like bags and discovered they were extremely heavy, containing only gold coins.
Reveals the immense wealth Oliver carried.
“Oliver whipped out his terrible sword (that could cut hairs asunder and might well be compared to Caliburn, the sword of King Arthur of England) and therewith he clove the fifth man from the shoulder to the belly.”
Oliver drew his fearsome sword, which was as sharp as the legendary sword Caliburn, and split the fifth soldier from shoulder to stomach.
Highlights Oliver's ferocity and the legendary quality of his weapon.
“I stripped him of his golden fleece that I had made but yesterday and hung it round my neck with the other.”
I removed the gold-filled knapsack I had sewn for him the previous day and added it to my own.
Simplicissimus's pragmatic decision to take Oliver's wealth after his death.