Chapter 4 Summary

On Hans' third day, a snowstorm blankets the area, even though it is still August. While visiting Davos so Hans can purchase camelhair blankets for his rest-cure deck chair outdoors, the cousins run into Settembrini, who bitterly rails against the weather and the Berghof's habit of keeping the rooms cold. Settembrini fondly remembers his father's warm study filled with books, and then complains wittily about his ignorant tablemates who have no interest in literature or humanism. This last remark leads Hans to mention Frau Stohr, and to say that there is something sacrilegious about sickness combined with stupidity, since sickness has something holy about it. Settembrini violently disagrees, calling this view a relic from medieval times, which regarded sickness and infirmity as passports to heaven.

Later, Hans repeats to Joachim that there's something edifying about death, and that he does better in situations...