![]() His first purpose is to debate the causes and principles of the dead-end world he believes was Austria in 1913-14. Von Doderer's "The Demons," for one, sets about describing the same kind of decadent world as Musil's, with emphasis on its interconnecting social lines, and takes the reader step by step on a magical journey through a past Vienna, recreating its people, its streets and cafes. Tone makes all the difference in comparing this with the other Austrian masterworks. Musil carried it to its extremity, though the tone is not cozy but rather sardonically philosophical. Those who think the old-fashioned "dear reader" authorial voice is dead should dip into this work. He gets involved with a political movement, the "Parallel Campaign." But he never does find himself, and this basically is the story of the novel.Ī good deal of the plot is interrupted by digressions on Destiny, Character and Human Motivation. ![]() ![]() He takes up numerous occupations in hopes of finding himself. Ulrich realizes he has no "qualities" and seeks to find some worthy of himself. To represent this man, Musil created a well-to-do Viennese named Ulrich. ![]() ![]() Musil's "man without qualities" is, in essence, a person without distinguishing characteristics, the product of the soulless modern world. ![]()
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