Section 1: p. 3-16 Summary

The Loser by Thomas Bernhard is a series of ruminations and recollections about the relationships between three main characters: the narrator, Glenn Gould and Wertheimer. After Glenn Gould's death and Wertheimer's suicide, the narrator travels to Wertheimer's hunting-lodge in Traich where he ponders how meeting Glenn Gould has affected Wertheimer and himself during the last three decades. He comes to the conclusion that even though Glenn Gould's musical genius inspires them, it ruins their own talents since they can never reach the same level of expertise as their friend. This ultimately leads to Wertheimer's suicide and the narrator's depression. The Loser represents the thought processes of a maddened former piano virtuoso, tormented by his failure which results from his inability to surpass his friend's talent. It is also a study into the psyche of a trio of friends with...