Zusammenfassung
Der Fremde: Ein Gleichniss by Hans von Kahlenberg, published in 1901, is a German novella set on a bleak Christmas Eve, blending social realism, religious allegory, and existential themes.
It follows two unemployed craftsmen, a young, naive cooper named Richard and a cynical, older turner named Fritz Kuhlemann, as they trudge through a cold, foggy landscape toward Berlin, seeking work.
Their journey is marked by despair, poverty, and Richard’s deteriorating health.
A mysterious stranger, implied to be a Christ-like figure, joins them, offering compassion and sparking existential debates.
The narrative shifts between gritty depictions of urban poverty, moral decay in a tavern, and philosophical discussions on science, faith, and madness.
The story culminates in a haunting scene at an asylum, where the stranger is crucified by a madman, symbolizing humanity’s rejection of divine love amidst suffering and societal collapse.