Scandinavian Studies 374/Literature in Translation 274
Masterpieces of Scandinavian Literature:
The Twentieth Century. 

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Klara Church (Klara kyka)
and Bellman's Grave

These two places figure frequently in the novel, since they can be seen from Dr. Glas' window. We can therefore make a good guess about where Dr. Glas lived.

"I walked hurriedly down past Klara Church toward home, hat in hand, the sweat pouring from my brow. Not even under the large trees in the churchyard did the heat let up, but on nearly every bench couples sat whispering, and some were wrapped around each other, kissing with feverish eyes." (2)

"Just now as I crossed through the churchyard on my way home I once again witnessed one of those scenes that guardians of morality who write letters to the newspaper always call 'beyond description'." (p. 11)

"The wind is shaking the trees in the churchyard and the rain gushes down the drainpipe. A poor wretch with a bottle in his pocket has taken refuge under the church roof in a corner near a buttress. He's leaning against the red church wall, and his gaze wanders back and forth among the scuttling clouds. Rain drips down from the two sparse trees by Bellman's grave." (p. 33)

"Why are the two little trees by Bellman's grave so miserable and sparse? I think they're diseasesed. Perhaps poisoned by gas." (78)

Are these the windows through which Dr. Glas watches life pass him by?

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Copyright © 2001 Susan Brantly. All Rights reserved.