Chapter 6, continued Summary

As Hans continues to visit Leo Naphta, with and without Settembrini, and sometimes with Ferge and Wehsal, he learns about his life. Leo Naphta was born Jewish, his father being the village shohet or ritual kosher butcher, and an unorthodox Torah scholar who argued with the rabbi. Leo grows up associating holy religion with the sight of slaughtered animals and blood. During a pogrom, Leo's father is killed and crucified to the door of his burning house. His mother flees to another town and gets a job in a cotton mill to support Leo and his three siblings. Leo's brilliant, restless mind attracts the attention of the local rabbi, with whom Leo argues like his father. One day as Leo sits on a bench, he meets by chance a Jesuit, Father Unterpertinger, who takes an interest in the unusual boy. Leo...