14 - Adrian's Last Speech and Final Defeat

Summary

IN CHAPTER 47, THE LAST OF THE FEW opportunities in the novel for Adrian to present his point of view, he is presenting his new work, his Dr. Fausti Weheklag. During his presentation his physical appearance is, symbolically, that of the German artist, head to one side (BeU, 113), and his speech is clumsy. Zeitblom objects that his language is Reformation German, which he finds barbaric because it is not as tightly controlled by rules as modern speech (DF, 656–57) — in other words, it represents Protestantism, which is not subject to dogma. Adrian's new work does not make much sense in isolation, but its meaning is quite clear when it is recognized that the images are those that have been clearly defined in the course of the novel. The work is the summing up and continuation of his account in chapter 25 of his association with the Devil, slightly modified to make it into a Faust story.

Zeitblom makes several remarks that show that he is aware of the impending disaster, pointing out that most of the guests are opposed to Adrian's views and activities (DF, 652–53). Right from the beginning he shows that he is very upset about Adrian's talk, presumably because he is afraid that Adrian is going to expose his perverse view that National Socialism is evil. This, in Zeitblom's opinion, is quite mad and dangerous. He is aware that National Socialism does not tolerate dissent, and he understands this as necessary, something to be expected and madness to oppose.