Use a quote (or two) from pages 214-216 to offer an interpretation of the murder of Hermine. What actually happened? What did it represent? Why is it the conclusion of the book?
"...he has in addition displayed the intention of using out theater as a mechanism of suicide and shown himself devoid of humor. Wherefore we condemn Haller to eternal life" The murder represents Harry taking life too seriously by having his punishment be just staying living on the world that he now hates because of his lack of humor. It is the conclusion of the book because people must acknowledge many of their aspects and not only live out lives that are too serious that try to be too meaningful. It says that he killed "the reflection of a girl with the reflection of a knife" So it could be the reflection of himself and he is killing off part of himself, the serious side.
But why on that occasion had i not only accepted that horrible and unnatural thought, but even guessed it in advance. perhaps because it had been my own. You wanted to be executed and to have your head chopped off, you lunatic! for this imbecile ideal you would suffer death ten times over. you are willing to die, you coward, but not to live. the devil, but you shall live!
After killing Hermine, Harry comes to the conclusion that it was he, not her,who had come up with the idea of killing her. He seems to understand that she was a projection of himself that he did not comprehend. Hermine was always telling Harry that he must learn to live, to love life, and fo laugh. And as a punishment for killing her, his sentence is not to die, like he would have wished, but to live.
My self-extenuation sounded unexpectedly and thoroughly foolish even to me who had believed in it with all my heart. When Hermine had once, so it suddenly occured to me, spoken about time and eternity, I had been ready forthwith to take her thoughts as a reflection of my own.
When Harry killed Hermine, I think it represented the death of what he used to think about his life, and he is just now realizing it. Harry examined every little detail of his mind and now that he has killed Hermine, he is killing that deep intellectual part of himself, and he is just now realizing that he took what Hermine said and used it as a reflection on his own thoughts.
"And stabbed to death the reflection of a girl with the reflection of a knife... therefore we condemn Haller to eternal life" (215).
It seems that maybe in the Theater Harry might have killed only the reflection of Hermine, or the Anime. If so , then he really killed a part of himself and he is given the punishment of eternal life. Although Harry wanted to die, gaining eternity could have also been a goal for Harry. This might be why he did it.
"Haller has not alone insulted the majesty of art in that he has confounded our beautiful picture gallery with so- called reality and stabbed to death the reflection of a girl with the reflection of a knife; he has in addition displayed the intention of using our theater as a mechanism of suicide and shown himself devoid of humor. Wherefore we condemn Haller to eternal life.." (215) This is confusing because prosecutor first says that it wasn't reality in which he saw Hermine with Pablo and then killed her, it was just in a painting. But he also says that in doing this he brought reality to the magic theater, so it may have been in reality. He also says that it was a type of suicide that he committed which possibly means that Hermine was a part of himself that he killed off. And for all this he is being punished so apparently this wasnt the purpose of the magic theater.
Haller has not alone insulted the majesty of art in that he confounded our beautiful picture gallery with so-called reality and stabbed to death the reflection of a girl with a reflection of a knife; he has in addition displayed the intention of using our theater as a mechanism of suicide and shown himself devoid of humor.
i think he killed her as a way to kill of the outside reflection of her and bring it internally as a means of trying to bring that aspect inside himself and i think that happened because after he did that he says I would learn to laugh, so since he has the hermine part of himself now he can learn what he was unable to, and lacking before.
"Haller has not alone insultud the majesty of art in that he confronted our beautiful picture gallery with so-called reality and stabbed to death the reflection of a girl with the reflection of a knife..." Harry's murder of Hermine was just in his head. It was meant to show him what is wrong with his life. He still has lots to learn. He is still to serious. he needs more humor.
"Had this beautiful girl really have nothing to desire of you but the stab of a knife... The poor child is stone dead" (214).
ReplyDeleteHermine is just one of the Steppenwolf's personalities. He has killed off a part of himself. He is now incomplete again. The happiness has died out.
"...he has in addition displayed the intention of using out theater as a mechanism of suicide and shown himself devoid of humor. Wherefore we condemn Haller to eternal life" The murder represents Harry taking life too seriously by having his punishment be just staying living on the world that he now hates because of his lack of humor. It is the conclusion of the book because people must acknowledge many of their aspects and not only live out lives that are too serious that try to be too meaningful. It says that he killed "the reflection of a girl with the reflection of a knife" So it could be the reflection of himself and he is killing off part of himself, the serious side.
ReplyDeleteBut why on that occasion had i not only accepted that horrible and unnatural thought, but even guessed it in advance. perhaps because it had been my own.
ReplyDeleteYou wanted to be executed and to have your head chopped off, you lunatic! for this imbecile ideal you would suffer death ten times over. you are willing to die, you coward, but not to live. the devil, but you shall live!
After killing Hermine, Harry comes to the conclusion that it was he, not her,who had come up with the idea of killing her. He seems to understand that she was a projection of himself that he did not comprehend. Hermine was always telling Harry that he must learn to live, to love life, and fo laugh. And as a punishment for killing her, his sentence is not to die, like he would have wished, but to live.
My self-extenuation sounded unexpectedly and thoroughly foolish even to me who had believed in it with all my heart. When Hermine had once, so it suddenly occured to me, spoken about time and eternity, I had been ready forthwith to take her thoughts as a reflection of my own.
ReplyDeleteWhen Harry killed Hermine, I think it represented the death of what he used to think about his life, and he is just now realizing it. Harry examined every little detail of his mind and now that he has killed Hermine, he is killing that deep intellectual part of himself, and he is just now realizing that he took what Hermine said and used it as a reflection on his own thoughts.
"And stabbed to death the reflection of a girl with the reflection of a knife... therefore we condemn Haller to eternal life" (215).
ReplyDeleteIt seems that maybe in the Theater Harry might have killed only the reflection of Hermine, or the Anime. If so , then he really killed a part of himself and he is given the punishment of eternal life. Although Harry wanted to die, gaining eternity could have also been a goal for Harry. This might be why he did it.
"Haller has not alone insulted the majesty of art in that he has confounded our beautiful picture gallery with so- called reality and stabbed to death the reflection of a girl with the reflection of a knife; he has in addition displayed the intention of using our theater as a mechanism of suicide and shown himself devoid of humor. Wherefore we condemn Haller to eternal life.." (215)
ReplyDeleteThis is confusing because prosecutor first says that it wasn't reality in which he saw Hermine with Pablo and then killed her, it was just in a painting. But he also says that in doing this he brought reality to the magic theater, so it may have been in reality. He also says that it was a type of suicide that he committed which possibly means that Hermine was a part of himself that he killed off. And for all this he is being punished so apparently this wasnt the purpose of the magic theater.
Haller has not alone insulted the majesty of art in that he confounded our beautiful picture gallery with so-called reality and stabbed to death the reflection of a girl with a reflection of a knife; he has in addition displayed the intention of using our theater as a mechanism of suicide and shown himself devoid of humor.
ReplyDeletei think he killed her as a way to kill of the outside reflection of her and bring it internally as a means of trying to bring that aspect inside himself and i think that happened because after he did that he says I would learn to laugh, so since he has the hermine part of himself now he can learn what he was unable to, and lacking before.
"Haller has not alone insultud the majesty of art in that he confronted our beautiful picture gallery with so-called reality and stabbed to death the reflection of a girl with the reflection of a knife..." Harry's murder of Hermine was just in his head. It was meant to show him what is wrong with his life. He still has lots to learn. He is still to serious. he needs more humor.
ReplyDelete