27
whether this possible theme will fit into the further development of this story.
For years Johannes has been very discouraged about his inability to complete a psycho-physiological treatise; however, concerning his literary work, his family offers no assistance to him whatsoever. Johannes' mother, on her part, positively hates the very sight of his manuscript. Nothing would give her greater pleasure than to put it into the fire. His manuscript also causes his father to be distressed. Johannes' wife, Käthe, tries very hard to assist him, but Johannes knows that her help is of no great value. Taking everyone into account, he cannot expect to get any encouragement from his family. As a matter of fact, his family hinders rather than helps him in his work. And in addition to this family trouble, even his childhood friend, Braun, does not show the slightest appreciation for Johannes' work.
Under these distressing circumstances Johannes meets Anna Mahr, the heroine of Einsame Menschen. Anna is a "new woman" who is intelligent and emancipated. She, like Johannes, has been studying psycho-physiological philosophy at a university in Zürich. Johannes' appreciation and respect for Anna's understanding of his work grows into love. As time goes on, the relationship between Johannes and Anna develops into "a new and a nobler state of fellowship between a man and a woman."[1]
Johannes' love for Anna is initiated when she becomes an intellectual ally in his struggle for social recognition. His interest in Anna is, at first, only to forward his career. However, Johannes'
- ↑ Hauptmann, Einsame Menschen, Act IV, p. 140.
