great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

1) Who is responsible for Georg’s decision at the end of the story?

At the end of “The Judgement”, the story ends up with Georg committing suicide. Although suicide is never the right choice, his father ultimately pushed his buttons and even ‘condemned’ him by saying “I condemn you to death by drowning!” One can agree that in this case scenario, there were two people who are responsible for Georg’s decision at the end. First, the father is the responsible because one is more vulnerable to make rash decisions when they’re at a low point at their lives but also Georg is responsible because he chose to do what he did which was commit suicide. Willpower and strength play a factor in his decision where apparently he lacked.

-Michelle

2) What is the significance of the very last line of the story: “At this moment, almost endless traffic rolled across the bridge”?

I think that the significance of this line is that it shows that life moves on. He may have killed himself, but the traffic is going to continue. After Georg lost his friend in Petersburg, he stopped his own life, not being able to move on with his own life. This is ultimately part of what made his life miserable. While it is undeniable that his father is why his life was so miserable, his being caught up in his friend from Petersburg was part of it. He also was not able to move on from being a child of his father’s, into his own adult. Georg’s father had a similar situation. After he lost his wife, he stayed stuck in memories and her life, not being able to move on with his own life. I think that the significance of the line is showing the importance of moving on.

-Rebecca

3) Many people see this ending as somehow unrealistic. Do you agree? Why or why not? How does it being realistic, not entirely realistic, or both contribute to your understanding of the ending?

I think this ending is realistic.The most serious paradox is the absolute incompatibility of Georg’s guilt and his punishment. Particularly in view of his love for his parent, which is present throughout the story and is repeated in a prominent position at the end. Georg and his father is a complicated relationship.The story’s conclusion, instead of answering the multiple questions raised by the text, Georg’s father ends his stream of accusations by pronouncing a formal judgment over his son, “So now you know what else there is in the world besides yourself, till now you’ve known only about yourself ! An innocent child, yes, that you were, truly, but still more truly you have been a devilish human being ! And therefore take note: I sentence you now to death by drowning.” Given that the judgement itself appears to be the immediate cause of Georg’s death.

-Songyun Hei