Concrete: Analysis of Major Characters
"Concrete: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the intricate lives of its central figures, primarily focusing on Rudolph, a musicologist consumed by his obsession with composer Felix Mendelssohn. Living in seclusion on his country estate in Peiskam, Rudolph grapples with his neurotic tendencies and a profound dependence on medication, which hinders his ability to write the monograph he longs to complete. His isolation is further complicated by the visits of his sister, a vivacious socialite whose domineering nature serves as both a source of torment and distraction for him. The narrative also introduces Anna Härdtl, a German woman whose tragic encounter with loss—a husband who falls to his death—intersects with Rudolph’s own existential musings. As Rudolph's journey takes him to Mallorca, he reflects on the transient nature of life and the impact of loss, leading him into despair. The story explores themes of obsession, isolation, and the search for meaning, inviting readers to ponder the complexities of human relationships and the often painful intersections of their lives. Through its characters, the text offers a poignant reflection on the struggles between personal ambition and external influences, highlighting the emotional depth of their experiences.
Concrete: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Thomas Bernhard
First published: Beton, 1982 (English translation, 1984)
Genre: Novel
Locale: An estate in Austria and the Canary Islands
Plot: Philosophical
Time: The early 1980's
Rudolph, the narrator of the story, a scholar and musicologist who is obsessed with writing a monograph on composer Felix Mendelssohn. A neurotic and sickly man who is dependent on medication, he lives alone on his country estate in Peiskam. Rudolph is an extreme perfectionist and is highly vulnerable to the slightest distraction. Although he thinks constantly about his monograph, he never seems to get to writing it. He is interrupted occasionally by visits from his vivacious socialite sister. Her domineering personality causes him great difficulties and destroys his concentration. He travels to Palma, Mallorca, at the beginning of the novel when, after one of her visits, he cannot concentrate on his work. There, he remembers the tragic story of a young woman whom he met two years earlier, on a previous journey to the island. Her fate plunges him into a depressed state, and he contemplates death and the meaninglessness of his life.
Rudolph's sister, an outgoing and vital woman who leads an active social life in the capital city of Vienna. A successful businesswoman who is involved in all the mundane activities of life, she is clearly the opposite of her sickly and isolated brother. She torments the narrator about his lack of success and his inability to write his treatise. Her visit at the beginning of the novel prompts him to travel to Mallorca.
Anna Härdtl, the young German woman whom the narrator meets on one of his trips to Mallorca. She is married and operates a small business with her husband in Munich. The business is not going well, and they decide to take their savings and take a vacation in Palma. One morning, she discovers that her husband has fallen (or thrown himself) from the balcony of their hotel room and is dead. The narrator befriends her, but he learns, after a brief trip away from Palma, that she has committed suicide. She is buried under a simple concrete slab.