Joachim's Shame (MM23) (2024) Pittura da Noël Van Hoof

Thomas Mann – The Magic Mountain – Part 23

And so they walked and said nothing about the indecencies of nature. And even Joachim's earlier agitated and angry complaints – about missing maneuvers and generally neglecting his military duties in the flatlands – had died away. And yet why, despite such great innocence, did that expression of sad shyness keep creeping back into his gentle eyes – that same unsteadiness that might have ended in victory for the head nurse, had she chanced it one more time? Was it because he knew that his cheeks looked hollow, that his eyes looked crossed? Because over these last weeks such changes were much more visible than when he had first returned from the flatlands, and his tanned face was turning more yellow and leathery from day to day. It was as if the same surroundings that had prompted Herr Albin to think of nothing but enjoying the boundless advantages of disgrace, had caused Joachim only shame and self-reproach. What or whom was he dodging when he did his once so open gaze? How strange that a creature feels ashamed before life and slinks into its den to perish, convinced that it cannot hope to encounter any respect or reverence for its sufferings and death throes – and rightly so, for joyous birds on the wing show no honor to a sick comrade in their flock, but instead peck him angrily, disdainfully with their beaks. That is base nature's way – but a very human, loving mercy swelled up in Hans Castorp's breast when he saw that dark, instinctive shame in poor Joachim's eyes.

(English translation by John E. Woods)

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Thomas MannThe Magic MountainDer Zauberberg