42
John: [Slightly embarrassed] Yes, sir, they are...that is...of course, with the exception of Darwin. Pastor
Kollin:[Peering closely at the picture] Darwin? Darwin? I see--Darwin! Yes, yes, hm! Well, you know! [He spells out] Ernst - Haeckel. Autograph, too, no less! Pf, pf! [With a touch of irony] And so he was one of your teachers? John: [Quickly and rather fierily] Yes, and I am proud of it, Mr. Kollin. . . .[1]
In the above cross-talk between Johannes and Pastor Kollin, Hauptmann at this early stage brings to light conflicting views on life. Johannes' parents are embarrassed. Käthe tries to cheer her husband but without much success. Johannes regrets the rude manner in which he answered the old pastor. His conscience torments him due to his convictions:
John: . . . The whole thing is hateful to me! . . . hateful! . . . You don't know how hateful![2]
This constant conflict of new and old ways of thinking clouds over Johannes' daily life. In time, his constant grief is transformed into self-pity. The following outburst by Johannes bears out this point:
John: If only one person in the wide world cared about me at all! It's not much I ask for. The least little bit of appreciation, the least little scrap of understanding of my work.[3]
In the Second Act, Anna Mahr's appreciation of Johannes' work changes his suppressed outlook on life to one of tranquility:
John: Of course I have. Certainly. That is...Miss Anna! I know you will not misunderstand me. I have never spoken about it to any one before.
