The Messiah of Stockholm

by Cynthia Ozick

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Summary

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The Messiah of Stockholm, a novel by Cynthia Ozick, serves two main purposes. It acts as a homage to Bruno Schulz, the esteemed Polish author who met a tragic end during the Nazi regime, and explores the innate human desire to connect with past narratives to shape present identities. This multilayered story delves into the universal longing for personal and cultural histories, exemplified through the life of Lars Andemening, an orphan on a quest for self-discovery.

A Cold Search for Identity

Set against the icy backdrop of Stockholm, Ozick’s third novel tells the chilling tale of one man's quest to piece together a logical past. Lars, who arbitrarily chose his name from a dictionary, is surrounded by fellow World War II refugees, each crafting their public personas. Yet, the people in his orbit are split into two distinct groups: colleagues with verifiable backgrounds at the "stewpot" where he works, and bookstore refugees with fictitious pasts. Lars aligns himself with the latter group, hoping they will help unravel the mystery of his origins. His fixation on uncovering the truth renders him unable to form lasting bonds, regardless of which group they belong to.

The Weight of an Unwritten History

Lars’s inability to trace his familial roots is often seen as the reason for his failures, both personally and professionally—a sentiment echoed by one of his ex-mothers-in-law. His daughter resides in America, and the only link he retains with her is a dried-up childhood paint set. This paint set holds significance for Lars due to Schulz's dual legacy as an art teacher and writer, fueling Lars's hope that some of his "father's" artistic prowess might be inherited by his daughter.

In Search of a Lost Past

Lars's obsession with Schulz permeates his every moment, whether awake or dreaming. He describes his dreams as "if he lets me have his [Schulz’s] own eye to look through." This fixation drives him to tirelessly seek out any existing connections to Schulz—photographs, letters, reviews—anything that could bridge the gap between himself and the deceased author.

Blurring the Lines Between Fact and Fiction

Ozick's elaborate narrative blurs the boundaries between historical fact and creative invention. Her fascination with the plight of World War II refugees forms the backbone of The Messiah of Stockholm, though Judaism, which prominently features in her earlier works, plays a subtler role. Lars believes himself to be Schulz's son, a Jewish author, yet he eschews any ties to Judaism, possibly because Schulz wrote in Polish, not Yiddish. Instead, Lars attempts to forge a bond by immersing himself in literary pursuits, hoping his intellectual accomplishments will substantiate his claim of paternity.

The Collapse of Fabricated Realities

The elaborate construct of Lars’s supposed lineage and the notion of a lost literary masterpiece is destined for collapse. His primary connection to his "father" comes through obscure Schulz memorabilia, imported from Poland to Sweden by Mrs. Eklund. When she presents what she purports to be a missing manuscript, Lars undergoes a profound epiphany, realizing the futility of his quest—he cannot prove the unprovable. This revelation prompts a dramatic transformation; Lars abandons his literary fantasies and integrates fully into his daily life, finally achieving success in the "stewpot" world.

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