Son of a death row inmate

Author: (Austria) Maria von Ebner-Eschenbach
Translator: Zhang Zaiyang
Author Country: Austria
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-01-01
Features: The author of this book, Maria von Ebner-Eschenbach, is hailed as the most outstanding female writer of 19th-century Austria! German literary critic Paul Friedl?nder once said, "Ebner was a woman who broke through the confines of nobility, her life filled with humanism and love. She not only depicted 'everything that happens in life,' but also sought to exert a broad influence on social conditions through her works." This book tells the story of Pavels, an adopted child from the village, who descends into depravity due to his humble origins. However, with the help of his schoolteacher and sister, he repents, fights against his tragic fate, and earns respect. The Son of a Hangman (1887) is a representative masterpiece by Maria von Ebner-Eschenbach. Set in a rural village in Moravia in 1860, the story follows the protagonist, Pavel Holup. His father, Martin, is sentenced to hanging for robbery and murder, and his mother is imprisoned for ten years for complicity. The thirteen-year-old Pavel, the son of a hangman, becomes an "adopted child of the village" and is sent to live and work for a notorious shepherd couple. Due to his parents' crimes and bad reputation, he faces discrimination and abuse. Gradually, Pavel picks up bad habits, and the villagers label him as the worst person, pinning all misdeeds, even the death of the mayor, on him. He himself once said, "How could I not be bad? My parents are bad people!" Yet, in this harsh environment, Pavel does not yield. With the help of his schoolteacher and sister, he fights against his tragic fate, reforms his ways, and works hard to become an upright farmer, earning the respect of the people. After his mother is released from prison, he ignores others' slander and takes her in to care for her. Through Pavel's transformation, the author refutes the environmental determinism of naturalism and the reactionary theory of heredity, pointing out that a person's character is not inherited. Even those born into bad circumstances and who have fallen into depravity can, if they repent and reform, take the right path.
Excerpt: It was Vinka who, while Peter was away, went to visit her father. The moment she stepped out of the small hut, she heard the commotion on the road and saw people pouring toward her house from all directions. Terrified, she ran through the village to the garden of the inn, where she saw her husband lying on the grass, covered in blood, with Pavel bending over him—uninjured. She was filled with strong doubts and, without thinking, as if driven mad, she shouted, "You rascal, what have you done!" and struck Pavel with her fists. Pavel remained silent, looking up at her face in shock. Anton was eagerly helping to unharness the horse. Just then, he put down what he was doing and turned, calmly saying, "Don't curse; you should thank him. If this man hadn't intervened, your husband would have been crushed to a pulp, like a honey cake pressed flat." His words drew laughter from everyone! Only Vinka was unconvinced, as she knew nothing of what had just happened. She threw herself at Peter's side and began to sob. Pavel slowly stood up, watching Vinka embrace and kiss the injured man with a vacant gaze. Peter trembled, listening to her words; she begged him not to die. She called this rough man her treasure, her happiness, her life, her everything. Pavel's eyes shot out fiery light. His tightly closed lips formed a white circle. Between his thick brows and on his forehead gathered a storm of dark, painful thoughts. Finally, he made a great effort to leave the scene that both trapped and tormented him and went to help straighten the traction machine. After great effort, the task was completed, and Anton offered his opinion. Thank goodness, the machine was not damaged and would soon be operational again. Pavel shook his head, pointing to the rod that operated the valve, saying, "It will be very difficult to start it; haven't you seen? The rod is bent." The blacksmith also shook his head, his mouth, surrounded by sparse gray whiskers, sneering, "If something is bent, he 'will surely see it,' and if something is missing, he 'will surely make it.'"