Chapters 30 - 34 Summary

Chapter 30 Robert Musil brings readers back to a trial that Moosbrugger is in. There are many questions from a judge. Moosbrugger's mentality and emotional reactions are brought into question in ways that have a strange effect. The judge is endeavoring to expose Moosbrugger as either remorseless or as having remorse but perhaps not regret. Moosbrugger is docile enough and answers questions but Musil makes it clear that the judge is trying to uncover something about Moosbrugger as he is on trial for having murdered a young woman called Hedwig. Moosbrugger is somehow pressured into discussing delicate personal matters by the court, and they want to draw some conclusions about his true nature.

The judge pored over Moosbrugger's file, and told Moosbrugger that this man regularly placed the blame for things on others. When confronted with the harmless nature of his victim...