- 195 -

Nowhere are the pernicious effects of the

ancien régime's
class system more clearly observable than in Bräker's constant anxiety about the effect of his friendship on the reputation of those he loves and admires. He is already well aware of the effect on his own relationships with his neighbours, even his family, he deplores their envy and vindictiveness but has no intention of relinquishing the new society that means so much to him. He is in constant dread that his new friends will suffer similar difficulties on his account. This anxiety seems absurdly exaggerated, but probably it had some foundation in reality. Bräker was not stupid or neurotic, nor was he ignorant of the political climate of the time, revolution was already breaking out in France and the Swiss governments were prepared to stamp heavily on any sign of it in their domains. He may have been right to fear that friendship with an educated member of the working class (a sinister creature in any case) would cause them to be suspected of political subversion.


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15th Mar. "No - I will not name your names - you my heart's dear friends of both sexes - I might do you harm - and that would gnaw my soul away - no, my envious neighbours shall not know you and slander you - It is you who sweeten my existence, who are my delight and the creators of my happy hours - in careworn and discouraged hours thinking of you is balm to my sore heart - If I forget you, dear friends, then I shall be in a very dangerous condition - throw me quickly into the madhouse, bound with chains and ropes - no, that I will never do, ye noble souls - I wish for the genius of Homer and Virgil, Cicero's eloquence, to make a song in your praise like Solomon to his bride - and especially you, you beautiful women friends, you my elect - which I love so tenderly (your pardon, you men, do not be angry or jealous on my account - I mean no harm - I am not without confidence but also not as pure as driven snow, but I know how to love in the platonic sense), to please you I would have Voltaire's talents, to give you pleasure with my verses and sing of your charms." [Voellmy, v 3 p 32]

16th Mar. Anna Katharina visits her former home for the first time since the wedding and appears well content with her present life. [Chronik, p 344]

26th Mar. "My little daughter is to have a new dress for Easter. The stuff is bought and the master tailor is so kind as to fit it on her. That gives joy. But alas, the Poor Man's purse weeps bright tears. O you vanities, how sour and dearly bought you come to mankind! Tailor and womenfolk - horrible weather outside - who might, who would not become hypochondriacal." [Voellmy, v 2 p 217]

1st Apr. Bräker begins writing his novel "Jaus the Knight-errant":
     "For a long time I have had the inclination, the strange idea, of writing a little book, and it should carry a title on the model of Don Quixote: The Knight-Errant. For I had collected a whole pile of little anecdotes which I honestly thought would suit the Knight.In the past weeks a few old love-letters fell by chance into my hands, which one of my peculiar neighbours had written in his youth. Ha, the idea came quickly again to me, the man would do very well for my Knight!" [Voellmy, v 3 p 279]

Apr. 3rd - 20th The Chronik [pp 346-347] adds that Jaus is portrayed as having suffered from his youth onwards a constant conflict between his instincts, particularly his sexual needs, and the moral norms of his upbringing. Sometimes he loses all self-control, neglects his work and threatens his wife, sometimes he is regarded as a madman and treated with cruelty. Towards the end of his life he withdraws completely, brooding on his own thoughts and winding yarn without a word to anyone.

1st-20th May "On useless peddling":
     "- [...] No despair can prevent - me from stealing off in the evening, though half dead with misery, to spend a moment with my dear friend Herr Hofmeister [house tutor] Grob - and to


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