Chapter 9, A Conversation Summary

Knecht has reached the highest level of the Order at an early age, even though he was not ambitious. He had not sought the Magister Ludi position and would have been happier leading the free life of a scholar. He does not like all of the duties his position requires, especially those involving the politics of the Order. Many of the functions of his position, even the training of Glass Bead Game players, are a burden to him. He does enjoy teaching. "We have come to that point in our study when we must focus our attention entirely upon the remarkable change of course which occupied the last years of the master's life and led to his biding farewell to his office and the Province, his crossing into a different sphere of life, and his death. Although he administered...