Marquise of O I
68-93

1.  68-74  “In M-,… subject was forgotten”  What announcement does the Marquise put in the local newspapers?  Why do you think Kleist chose to flash back to the story of an attack on her father’s citadel, particularly this attack, immediately after her recounting announcement in the newspapers?  Figuratively, what other citadel was attacked at the same time?  What has the father lost along with his citadel?

2.  74-80 “Shortly after this,….just before dinner”  What do you make of the Count’s insistence that the Marquise respond immediately to his marriage request?  What quandary is the Count in?  Why does he hide what he has done?  What are the effects of his deception, his demands, and his curtness to Commander in the latter’s house?  How does each respond?   Why do his words and actions produce this effect?

3.  80-85  “In the meantime…and departed”   Interpret the count’s memories and visions of the swan.  What does he desire?  What does he fear?   Interpret the Marquise’s reactions to her mother’s urging her to consider the Count’s request.  What has happened to her admiration of the count when he saved her from the raping soldiers?   Any guesses why?

4.  85-93 “Several weeks passed…drove off” What in the daughter’s and parent’s ways of seeing the world is making it impossible for them to communicate?  What has made it impossible for the count to communicate with the family?   What do both situations have to say about the relationship between our consciousness or intentional statements and our actions?  What does the Marquise come to accept about this relationship?  How is that important to her life?