Sohnschaft in Der Krise: Zu Ludwig Hohls Notiz ?Der Verlorene Sohn?

Abstract

The Swiss author Ludwig Hohl (1904–1980), whose 100 th birthday was commemorated this year on April 9 th , is a well-known “Randganger” in twentieth century German literature. His sharp and biting analytic texts and aphorisms provoked many a reaction. In this article a text from his Notizen, elucidating his view of life as “Ausenseitertum” by means of the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son, is scrutinized and placed within a wider literary context. In comparison to texts written by Andre Gide, Rainer Maria Rilke and Franz Kafka, each of whom also used the parable of the Prodigal Son as a starting-point, one can conclude that this theme, so popular with writers, not only illuminates modernistic thinking, but also clearly demonstrates that Ludwig Hohl is most severe as a writer in his aphoristic commentaries. His conclusion is radical: “Und ware er wenigstens nicht wiedergekehrt-“