The Zeitgeist of Europe

The word zeitgeist is a word of German origin, which roughly means the "spirit of the time". This phrase is perfectly suited for the novel in question, where Zweig gives the reader both an intellectual view of the collective mindset of Europe during the pre-war years, as well as an eventual portrait of the less fortunate in the world, that he had previously shortchanged, during World War É. The stark contrast between these two separate worlds is the essence of the novel because it mirrors the travels that Zweig himself goes through before, during, and after the war.

The pre-war period was a time of great optimism and idealism in Europe. This was a time when members of various different counties would give themselves the label of Europeans, as nationalism as a way of thinking would not come to a head until the days leading up to the outbreak of the war. The cities of Europe were singular cities that in many circumstances carried a unique example independent of the respective countries that they were located in. This was specifically evident where Zweig recalls his love affair with the city of Paris, as the thoughts of the occupation of the city was imminent as he was writing. He spoke of the people who lived there; that a simple labor worker was able to feel as free as the employer who might benefit off of this labor. He saw all of the history of the French state in its walls that existed in 1904 as well as from the past centuries. His discussions of these romanticizing points were a metaphor for the world and mindset that would be lost once the First World War had broken out. A similar discussion of his home city of Vienna, Austria also appears, which is in stark contrast to what his experiences would be when he traveled to India.

When in India, the world of injustice almost seemed like it was being revealed to him. He spoke of the dehumanizing caste system that Hindus were born into where they could never rise up and become an important member of society once they were confirmed on a low rung. He was obviously surprised at the horrors of the living conditions of the poor, and he felt that he had now reached the level of being a man of the world, from witnessing the best and worst of society; however his world view would once again be shattered as he experiences first hand the horrors of war, and its results on the lower classes of Europe.

As the strong winds began to sweep over Europe, bringing the brutal truth of war, Zweig felt it harder and harder to overcome his optimistic view of the world. He had previously felt that this new and more intelligent society would suppress these winds of war, but it had proved only to feed it. Blatantly nationalistic viewpoints spread over the general public in pro-German countries, as their mindset shifted from themselves, daily lives, and friends, to politics and dealings larger than themselves. This is the time period, the first months of the war, where selfishness and introspectiveness waned, and nationalism would eventually breed totalitarianism in the future.

As Zweig worked on various articles and opinion pieces to print in newspapers throughout Europe, he saw the changing feelings toward dissent. He found that he was not able to write dissents of the German people or armies safely, and this saddened him greatly. He felt that he needed to travel to get back his youthful spirit and to attempt to locate his friends who had now been placed on different and sometimes opposing sides. He was pleased to find that many of them were very gracious but as soon as war broke out, it was a completely alternate relationship between them. "...no one in Austria would have ventured the thought that the all-high ruler Emperor Franz Josef, in his eighty-third year, would have called his people to war unless from direct necessity, would have demanded such a sacrifice of blood unless evil, sinister, and criminal foes were threatening the peace of the empire" (225).

When Zweig finally had his homecoming to Austria, he now realizes that it was probably a mistake logically to go back after the end of the war. But he was emotionally scared and wished that he would find the Vienna and sophisticated cultural society that had existed their only less than five years ago. But now the landscape was depressing to say the least, economically and emotionally. "...the peace conference having scarcely begun; reparations had not been fixed, there was no flour, bread, or oil; there appeared to be no solution other than a revolution or some other catastrophe" (281). It was very difficult, after the blatant nationalism, for the German people to come to the realization that their country had lost.

On page 306, Zweig refers to the future of war in Europe and the effect that the conclusion of the war might have had on the upcoming war that was brewing just as he was writing. He believes that the emphases of the problems merely were transported from the national to the social; as the socialist leaders began to take power. He speaks of Mussolini who had separated from his previous political party, and eventually Hitler would come and begin to take power over Germany and eventually the Europe that had been seen as the pinnacle of civilization by its late people; the Europeans.

Works Cited

"The World of Yesterday" By Stefan Zweig