The Bound Man by Ilse Aichinger
"The Bound Man" by Ilse Aichinger is a thought-provoking narrative that explores themes of freedom, identity, and societal perception. The story begins with a man who awakens to find himself loosely bound, which initially brings him a sense of amusement but soon leads to an awakening of vulnerability and fear as he realizes his predicament. As he attempts to navigate the world in his bonds, he becomes a captivating figure in a circus, where the audience is drawn to his unique performance and the mystery surrounding his past. His experience reflects a complex interplay between autonomy and restraint, as he is both physically limited yet possesses the ability to free himself at will.
The narrative takes a darker turn as the bound man faces external threats, including a wolf that represents danger and chaos. In a moment of desperation, he confronts this primal force, leading to a transformation that challenges his understanding of power and freedom. The story culminates in a dramatic incident that further complicates his relationship with his bonds and his identity. Aichinger's work invites readers to reflect on the nature of captivity—both literal and metaphorical—and the ways in which society constructs narratives around individuality and performance. Through its rich symbolism and nuanced character development, "The Bound Man" presents a compelling exploration of the human condition, making it a significant piece in contemporary literature.
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The Bound Man by Ilse Aichinger
First published: "Der Gefesselte," 1953 (English translation, 1955)
Type of plot: Fable
Time of work: Summer
Locale: Unspecified
Principal Characters:
The bound man The circus owner , who promotes the bound manThe circus owner's wife , who cuts the cords
The Story
A man awakened by strong spring sunlight discovers that he is bound but in a loose way that makes him smile. He can move his legs a little, and his arms are bound to themselves, not to his body. Wanting to cut the cord, he finds that his knife, money, coat, and shoes are missing. There is also blood on his head.
After several attempts, he manages to stand up. Unable to walk, he hops away like a bird, and hears stifled laughter. Realizing that he might not be in a position to defend himself frightens him.
He heads for the nearest village. As evening falls, he learns how to walk in his bonds. He feels that he is in the power of the earth, which sometimes comes up toward him like a swift current. Before midnight, he lies down and sleeps.
The next morning, he goes through the intricate maneuver of picking up an empty wine bottle, intending to smash it and cut his bonds with a sharp edge. He is seen, however, by the owner of a circus, and becomes its chief attraction. The owner is delighted by the charm of his movements, which "seemed like the voluntary limitation of a high speed."
Everyone who goes to the circus goes to see the bound man. He is different from the other performers because he does not remove the cord between performances, although he can free himself if he wants to. To bathe, he jumps fully clothed into the river each morning. Because he never reveals anything of his past, and keeps to the same simple story of how he found himself bound, the villagers begin to think that perhaps the man has bound himself or that he is in league with the circus owner.
As autumn approaches, the circus owner speaks of moving south. Then one of the circus wolves escapes and causes trouble in the village. No one can catch it. As the bound man returns through the woods from watching the sunset, he is attacked by the wolf. In one movement, he hurls himself on the animal and brings it down. As though intoxicated, he feels that he has lost the superiority of free limbs that causes humans to be subjugated.
At the next performance, the hostile crowd insists that the bound man kill another wolf. The circus owner's wife, fearing for the bound man's safety, cuts his cords at a crucial moment. Feeling his blood flowing downwards, he grabs a gun from the wall of the cage and shoots the animal between the eyes.
Eluding his pursuers, he comes to the river at dawn. It seems as if snow has fallen, removing all memory.