The Judgment

Georg Bendemann, a young merchant, lives with his aging father in a city apartment. One Sunday morning, he finishes writing a letter to his friend who moved to Russia years ago. The friend, dissatisfied with his life at home, had 'fled' to Russia and established a business in Petersburg, which, though initially successful, has been stagnating. He rarely visits home, his beard hides his familiar face, and his sallow complexion suggests illness. He maintains little contact with the Russian-German community or local families, seemingly resigned to a life of bachelorhood. Georg grapples with what to write to his friend. He considers advising him to return home, relocate his business, and rely on friends' support. However, he fears this would be perceived as a patronizing admission of the friend's failure and a demand to act like a child following his more successful friends. He worries that even this advice might not lead to his friend's return, causing further estrangement. If the friend did return and failed to thrive, he would be left with neither home nor friends. To maintain contact without causing distress, Georg limits his letters to trivial matters, intending to preserve the friend's existing image of their hometown. He even repeats the announcement of a casual acquaintance's engagement three times, which ironically piques the friend's interest. Georg avoids mentioning his own significant news: his engagement a month prior to Frieda Brandenfeld, a young woman from a wealthy family. He discusses his friend with Frieda, who expresses a desire to meet all his friends, especially at their wedding. Georg explains his reluctance, fearing his friend would feel pressured and envious. Frieda suggests there are other ways for the friend to learn about the engagement, but Georg believes it unlikely given his friend's isolated lifestyle. Frieda expresses hurt, but Georg reassures her, stating he cannot change himself to better suit his friend. Georg finally decides to inform his friend of his engagement in his letter. He describes Frieda as being from a well-to-do family and suggests that his wedding might be an occasion for his friend to overcome his reservations and visit. He encourages his friend to act according to his own well-being. After writing the letter, Georg visits his father's dark room. His father, engrossed in his newspaper, seems frail and unwell. Georg expresses concern about his father's health and the dim environment, suggesting a move to a brighter room and better meals. He decides to bring his father to live with him and Frieda, sensing his father's decline. During this conversation, his father questions the existence of Georg's friend in Petersburg, hinting at Georg's deceit. Georg tries to remind his father of the friend's past visit, recalling how his father had initially disliked him but later engaged in conversation, even retelling a story the friend had shared about a religious procession in Kiev. His father, however, dismisses Georg's memories, accusing him of betraying his friend and his mother by engaging with Frieda, and implies that he, the father, has been acting as the friend's proxy. The father then dramatically condemns Georg, revealing his own deep-seated resentment and knowledge of Georg's perceived betrayals. He declares Georg condemned to death by drowning. Overwhelmed, Georg flees his home, runs to the water, and leaps from a bridge into the river, his final thoughts on his parents. A heavy traffic flow on the bridge masks his suicide.