Hjalmar Söderberg (2019)
Genre
Fiction
Reading Time
180 min
Key Themes
See below
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In fin-de-siècle Stockholm, a lonely doctor's long-held dislike for an unpleasant minister turns into a murderous fixation when the minister's beautiful wife shares her marital problems.
Doctor Glas begins his diary entries on a warm July day in Stockholm, thinking about his lonely life as a doctor and his sadness. He describes his routine, his lack of close human connection, and his feeling of isolation even when surrounded by people. He expresses a general tiredness with life and a philosophical distance, often thinking about existence, happiness, and suffering. He hints at a past sorrow involving a woman named Helga, though details are few, which sets the somber, reflective tone for the story and reveals Glas's inner world.
Helga Gregorius, the young wife of Pastor Gregorius, visits Doctor Glas's office, complaining of tiredness and unease. During her check-up, she tells Glas about her strong dislike for her husband's physical advances. She describes Pastor Gregorius as an old, repulsive man whose touch sickens her, and she feels trapped in their marriage. Glas, who already dislikes the minister because of his public image and perceived hypocrisy, feels immediate sympathy and a growing desire to protect Helga. This meeting starts his dangerous obsession and his wish to help her.
After Helga's confession, Doctor Glas becomes consumed by her situation. He starts imagining ways to free her from her oppressive marriage, at first considering non-violent solutions like convincing Pastor Gregorius to stop having sex. He visits the minister, pretending to discuss public health, and subtly probes Gregorius's character and his views on marriage and duty. Glas finds the minister's self-righteousness and insensitivity disgusting, which strengthens his belief that Helga is suffering unfairly. His inner thoughts show a conflict between his medical ethics and his growing desire to act for Helga, even if it means breaking moral rules.
Doctor Glas plans a way to give Helga temporary relief from her husband. He falsely tells Pastor Gregorius that Helga has a serious heart condition that makes sexual activity dangerous and possibly fatal. Gregorius, though at first doubtful and resistant, eventually agrees to Glas's medical advice, though unwillingly. This manipulation gives Helga a period of relief, and she thanks Glas, which deepens his emotional involvement in her well-being. Glas feels a twisted satisfaction in his deception, seeing it as a necessary wrong to ease Helga's suffering and proof of his growing power over the situation.
During the time of forced abstinence, Doctor Glas notices Helga's renewed energy and happiness. He sees her often in the city, frequently with a handsome young student named Reverend Recke. Glas's initial pleasure at Helga's improved state soon turns into a mix of jealousy and a feeling of betrayal when he realizes they are lovers. He feels a pang of disappointment, as if his efforts for her were not entirely for her freedom, but perhaps for some unspoken, unacknowledged desire of his own. This discovery complicates his moral view, as his protective instincts now clash with his own unrequited feelings and the knowledge of her infidelity.
Pastor Gregorius, growing impatient and suspicious of his wife's long 'illness,' confronts Doctor Glas. He says he doesn't believe in Helga's heart condition and demands that Glas take back his diagnosis, insisting on his right to his wife. Gregorius's self-centeredness and lack of empathy further fuel Glas's contempt. The minister's persistence and his refusal to consider Helga's feelings confirm Glas's belief that Gregorius prevents Helga's happiness and freedom, and that his continued existence causes her deep suffering. This confrontation pushes Glas closer to thinking about more extreme actions.
Faced with Gregorius's firm demands and Helga's renewed despair, Doctor Glas increasingly considers murder as the only lasting solution. He comes up with detailed ethical and philosophical reasons for such an act, arguing that some lives are not worth living and that removing a source of suffering can be a moral must. He reasons that Gregorius's death would free Helga and, more broadly, serve humanity by getting rid of an offensive person. He carefully plans how he might commit the murder without being caught, weighing different methods and their outcomes, which shows how deep his obsession is.
Doctor Glas carries out his plan. He invites Pastor Gregorius to his office, supposedly to discuss a new treatment for his 'heart condition.' During the consultation, Glas offers Gregorius a glass of water containing a lethal dose of cyanide. Gregorius, unsuspecting, drinks it. Glas watches the minister's final moments with a chilling detachment, recording the physical effects of the poison in his diary. He feels a strange mix of triumph and emptiness, having executed his plan with clinical precision. The act is presented as both a liberation for Helga and a dark, definite expression of Glas's own will.
In the days after Pastor Gregorius's death, which is officially attributed to a heart attack, Doctor Glas appears composed. Inside, however, he deals with the aftermath of his actions. He observes Helga's reaction, noting her relief but also some sadness and perhaps guilt. He feels no regret for the act itself, believing it was justified, but he is left with a deep sense of isolation and a realization that his deed has not brought him the peace or connection he might have subconsciously wanted. His diary entries become even more introspective, exploring responsibility, justice, and the ultimate pointlessness of human effort.
Life continues for Doctor Glas, but he carries the heavy burden of his secret. He continues his medical practice, interacts with society, but remains alone. He occasionally sees Helga, who eventually moves on with her life, perhaps marrying Reverend Recke. Glas realizes that his grand act of 'liberation' has not brought him closer to Helga or to any personal fulfillment. The novel ends with Glas continuing his diary entries, reflecting on the mystery of human existence, good and evil, and his own place in a world where he has committed a serious wrong, yet remains outwardly untouched by justice, only by his own inner solitude.
The Protagonist
Glas transforms from a passive observer to an active agent, committing murder based on his moral justifications, ultimately realizing his act brings him no closer to connection or peace.
The Supporting
Helga seeks liberation from her marriage, finds temporary relief and love, and ultimately achieves freedom through a tragic event she is unaware of influencing.
The Antagonist
Gregorius remains static in his self-righteousness, becoming the unwitting victim of Glas's intervention.
The Supporting
Recke serves as a catalyst for Helga's brief happiness and a point of jealousy for Glas.
The Mentioned
Anna's impact on Glas's character is in his past; she doesn't have an arc within the present narrative.
The novel explores the unclear lines between right and wrong, especially through Doctor Glas's inner thoughts. He carefully builds elaborate philosophical reasons for his planned murder of Pastor Gregorius, arguing that some lives are not worth living and that removing a source of suffering can be a moral act. This theme appears in Glas's justification of deception and, finally, killing, as a 'service' to Helga and society, challenging common ethics and making the reader face the complexities of individual morality versus societal law. His belief that 'one can never kill a man who is already dead' sums up his twisted logic.
“One can never kill a man who is already dead.”
Doctor Glas is a deeply lonely character, despite his job which brings him into contact with many people. His diary entries are full of thoughts on his solitude, his inability to form deep connections, and his feeling of being an outsider. This theme is key to understanding his reasons; his obsession with Helga and his wish to 'save' her can be seen as a desperate attempt to escape his isolation and find meaning. His act of murder, rather than easing his loneliness, ultimately deepens it, as he becomes burdened by a secret that further separates him from humanity.
“Oh, to be loved! To be loved for oneself alone, for one's own sake! Is that not the greatest happiness?”
The novel examines different kinds of love and desire: Helga's disgust for her husband, her passionate affair with Recke, and Doctor Glas's complex, unrequited, and ultimately destructive obsession. Glas's 'love' for Helga is not purely selfless; it is tied to his own need for purpose, his appreciation of her beauty, and a hidden possessiveness. The story questions whether love can truly exist without being returned and explores how desire, when unmet or twisted, can lead to extreme actions. It shows the destructive power of unacknowledged desires and the gap between romantic ideals and messy reality.
“Is it not a beautiful thing, to be loved by a woman you admire?”
Late 19th-century Stockholm sets the scene for a critique of social rules and the suppression of natural human instincts. Pastor Gregorius represents the hypocrisy of religious authority, following strict moral codes while acting selfishly and insensitively in his private life. Helga's suffering directly results from societal expectations about marriage and female submission. Doctor Glas, though a murderer, also criticizes society, railing against the conventions that stifle individual happiness and authenticity. The novel suggests that society's rigid moral facade can create resentment, despair, and, finally, rebellion through extreme acts.
“It is a strange thing to be a human being, and to live among other human beings.”
The story is told entirely through Doctor Glas's personal diary entries.
This device offers an intimate and unfiltered look into Doctor Glas's mind, allowing the reader to experience his complex thoughts, philosophical musings, moral justifications, and emotional struggles directly. It creates a sense of immediacy and draws the reader into his subjective reality, making his descent into obsession and murder feel chillingly personal. The diary format also allows for retrospective reflection and the gradual unfolding of his plan, building suspense and providing a unique perspective on the events, even if it is a biased one.
The reader is aware of Glas's intentions and actions, while other characters remain ignorant.
Dramatic irony is prevalent as Doctor Glas meticulously plans and executes the murder of Pastor Gregorius, while Helga and the rest of society remain unaware of his true role. This creates tension and suspense, as the reader is privy to Glas's internal deliberations and his deceptive interactions with other characters. The irony is particularly stark when Glas acts as a 'sympathetic' doctor, knowing his ultimate goal is to eliminate his patient, highlighting the dark undercurrents of his character and the duplicity required for his plan.
The changing seasons mirror the progression of Glas's internal state and the narrative.
The novel opens in the heat of summer, a time associated with life and vitality, yet Glas is already in a state of melancholic stagnation. As his obsession with Helga intensifies and his thoughts turn to murder, the narrative progresses into late summer and autumn, symbolizing decay, decline, and the impending death. The cooling weather and shortening days mirror the chilling nature of Glas's plans and the moral winter he enters by committing murder. The natural world provides a subtle, yet powerful, backdrop for the psychological drama.
Doctor Glas's perspective is subjective and colored by his biases and self-deception.
As the sole narrator, Doctor Glas presents events and characters through his own distorted lens. His philosophical justifications for murder, his idealization of Helga, and his demonization of Pastor Gregorius are all subject to his personal biases and self-serving rationalizations. The reader is constantly challenged to question the veracity and objectivity of his account, recognizing that his internal logic, while meticulously constructed, serves to absolve him of guilt and justify his actions. This device forces the reader to critically engage with the narrative and form their own judgments.
“One wants to be loved, in case of doubt, admired, in case of doubt, feared, in case of doubt, abhorred. One wants to instill some sort of emotion in people. The soul shudders before emptiness and wants contact at any price.”
— Glas reflects on the human need for connection and validation, even negative forms of it.
“There are moments when one feels such a powerful need to act, to do something, anything, even if it is wrong, just to escape the unbearable passivity.”
— Glas ponders the urge to break free from an inactive, observant existence.
“It is strange how much one can hate a person whom one has never done any harm.”
— Glas considers his growing animosity towards Reverend Gregorius, despite having no direct conflict with him.
“To take a human life is a terrible thing. But there are lives that are so miserable, so useless, that their ending is a mercy.”
— Glas grapples with the ethical implications of his potential actions, trying to rationalize a dark thought.
“The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but life that is lived without purpose, without love, without joy.”
— A general reflection on the quality of life, rather than its mere existence.
“It is not the great events that shape our lives, but the small, imperceptible changes that gradually alter our perspective.”
— Glas muses on the subtle ways in which life evolves and perceptions shift over time.
“We are all prisoners of our own character, our own temperament, our own past.”
— Glas reflects on the deterministic aspects of human nature and personal history.
“A man who thinks too much about death never lives fully.”
— A more general observation about the impact of preoccupation with mortality.
“The only true freedom is to be free from oneself, from one's own desires and fears.”
— Glas contemplates a form of inner liberation through detachment.
“Sometimes it seems as if the whole world is a hospital, and we are all patients, suffering from different ailments of the soul.”
— A metaphorical reflection on the universal human condition of suffering and imperfection.
“Conscience is a strange thing. It can be a guide, or it can be a tormentor.”
— Glas struggles with his own moral compass and the internal conflict it causes.
“To judge others is easy; to understand them is much harder.”
— A general reflection on empathy and the difficulty of truly comprehending another's perspective.
“There is a kind of peace in giving up, in letting go of the struggle, even if it means defeat.”
— Glas considers the allure of resignation in the face of insurmountable difficulties.
“The heart has its reasons, which reason knows nothing of.”
— This is a famous quote, often attributed to Pascal, but it encapsulates Glas's own internal struggles between logic and emotion, particularly regarding his feelings for Helga.
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