# XXVI: A New and Strange Way for Men to Wish One Another Luck and to Welcome One Another explained — The Adventurous Simplicissimus

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

## What happens

Simplicissimus, troubled by the mockery he receives when pointing out sins, questions the pastor whether the people are Christians. The pastor reassures him they are, but laments the godlessness of soldiers. Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of prisoners, and Simplicissimus witnesses a bizarre greeting between two soldiers—one from the garrison and one prisoner—who exchange curses and wish each other 'gallows' luck.' Simplicissimus is shocked, and the pastor admits he dares not preach against such behavior for fear of hatred.

## Themes in this chapter

### Religion and Morality

Simplicissimus struggles to reconcile the soldiers' behavior with Christian faith, and the pastor admits the difficulty of preaching to the godless.

### Innocence and Experience

Simplicissimus's naive shock at the soldiers' cursing contrasts with the pastor's weary acceptance of worldly corruption.

## Character check-ins

### Simplicissimus

Questions the pastor about the morality of the people, is shocked by the soldiers' greeting, and reflects on his own simplicity.

### The Governor

Mentioned as the one Simplicissimus waits upon; allows him to visit the pastor and see the town.

## Key lines

> Devil take thee! art still alive, brother? ’S blood, ’tis surely the devil that brings us together here! Strike me blind, but I believed thou wert long since hanged.

A soldier greets a captured enemy with curses and surprise, expressing that he thought the man had been hanged long ago.

_Illustrates the profane and ironic camaraderie among soldiers._

> Gallows’ luck! Gallows’ luck! tomorrow will we meet again, and be nobly drunk together.

Instead of saying goodbye, the soldiers wish each other the luck of the gallows and plan to get drunk together the next day.

_Highlights the dark humor and moral decay of the soldiers._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se/chapters/xxvi-a-new-and-strange-way-for-men-to-wish-one-another-luck-and-to-welcome-one-another
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventurous_simplicissimus_se/chapters