Hannah Forster

1. Compare and contrast Alexander von Humboldt’s journey through South America with his later journey through Russia Hannah Forster

2. Introduction • Historical novel based on real individuals and events • First expedition to South America 1799 • Later journey through Russia to fringes of Orient 1829 • Kehlmann’s contrasting presentation: success vs. disaster • Look at why Humboldt perceives the expeditions as successes or failures • Establish Humboldt’s aims and desired outcomes for each trip – both personal and scientific • Ascertain whether these hopes are fulfilled during the expeditions in reality • Examine how Kehlmann articulates the success or failure of the expeditions through change and difference

3. Personal Motives and Aims South America Death of mother • Humboldt is overjoyed ‘Er war nochnie so glücklichgewesen.’ (36) • Sense of freedom and emancipation ‘Weil das alleszuwenigsei…Und weilerjetztendlichaufbrechenkönne’ (36) • Financially free to pursue journey • Free from expectations of family and obligations of bourgeois society • Freedom from external factors • Establishes personal goal

4. Personal Motives and Aims Russia Death of sister-in-law • Parallel but also significant difference - death serves new purpose • Characterise Humboldt in a state of living death • Humboldt’s lecture on death ‘Was…ist der Tod? ImGrundenichterst das Verlöschen und die Sekunden des Übergangs, sondernschon das langeNachlassendavor, jenesichüberJahredehnendeErschlaffung; die Zeit, in der ein Mensch noch da ist und zugleichnichtmehr’ (263) • Conversation with Wilhelm, reflect on personal aims in life ‘Wenigstensseiihm das LebenohneLangeweilevergangen’ (264) • Lost sight of goals, failure to fulfill in current state ‘mithalbgeschlossenenAugen’ (235) • Double significance of description - slipping into living death

5. Scientific Motives and Aims South America • Concerned with precise, empirical measuring and recording of world, description of equipment p.37-38 • Scientific investigation as end in itself, contrasting utilitarian view of ship captain and Bonpland ‘Mehrbrauche man nicht!’ (42) • Only later does Humboldt declare desire to locate channel between Orinoco and Amazon – results orientated mission • Focus not on results but process of measuring itself

6. Scientific Motives and Aims Russia • Pessimistic attitude towards utilitarian value of previous expedition ‘Abererglaubenichtmehr, daßes die Nachweltinteressierenwerde, erzweifleauch an der Bedeutung der Flußreiseselbst. Der KanalhabekeineWohlfahrtfür den Kontnentgebracht’ (264) • Despite this, Humboldt embarks on his next expedition with a clear scientific aim: to measure earth’s magnetism • Maintains obsessive desire to measure • Insists on measuring Wolga using his own dated equipment and methods • Again Humboldt’s focus is on measuring itself

7. External Influences - Political South America • Emphasis on autonomy and hegemony of Humboldt • Nevertheless reliant on political powers to gain access to South America • Manipulate political situation, invent pseudo-scientific mission • Enjoy total freedom and autonomy ‘Baron von Humboldt und seine AssistentenseijedeUnterstützungzugewähren. Sieseienzubeherbergen, freundlichzubehandeln, hättenZugangzujedemPlatz, der sieinteressiere, und könnten auf allenSchuffen der Krone reisen.’ (44)

8. External Influences - Political Russia • Journey endorsed and financed by Friedrich Wilhelm • Humboldt no longer independent, representative of state ‘Kammerherrn Humboldt zumWirlichenGeheimen Rat’ (265) • Imposition of strict limitations on journey, Humboldt no longer in control • In terms of scientific focus: ‘Erwerdesichmit der unbelebtenNaturbefassen, die Verhältnisse der unterenVolksklassenabernichtstudieren.’ (265) • In terms of freedom of movement: ‘die bewilligte Route’ (271) • Implications for progress of scientific investigation: ‘Man müsse die Pläneändern, schireb Humboldt, erkönnenicht, wieerwolle, man habeihmeine Route vorgescrieben’ (271)

9. External Influences - Companions South America • Most significant companion AiméBonpland ‘Assistant’(44) • Joined later by other figures ‘In Neuspanienwartete der erste Reporter.’ (195) • Gomez, Wilson, Duprés and Don Ramón • No negative impact on progress of journey, comical • Humboldt remains in control

10. External Influences - Companions Russia • Ehrenberg ‘Zoologe’ (264) and Rose ‘Mineralogue’ (264) extension of state control under guise of assisting • Reinforce limitations concerning focus of expedition ‘Rose hatteihnvorallenLeutenzurechtgewiesen: Erhabebei der Eskortzubleiben, was seiendenn das fürIdeen!’ (284) • Prevent Humboldt from conducting measuring himself ‘Und außerdem, fragte Ehrenberg, was sprechedagegen? Alle kluge, ehrenwerte Menschen, siekönntenihmArbeitabnehmen, die ihmvielleichtschwerfalle.’ (274) • State impose ‘einKosakentrupp’ (269) size of party and state presence increases • Negative effect on Humboldt’s sense of freedom and ability to fulfill aims

11. External Influences - Companions Russia cont. • Power relationship • Expansion of party ‘IhreSammlungenwuchsenbeständig.’ (284) • Simultaneous decline in Humboldt’s protestations ‘Das seiwirklichnichtnötig, sagte Humboldt.’ (269) ‘Am Abendvor der Weiterfahrtgelanges Humboldt, heimlich in seinemSchlafzimmereineMegnetmessungdurchzuführen.’ (287-288) • Increasingly characterised as old and frail, symbolic physical decline ‘ErhabenochniezweiDeckengebraucht, sagte Humboldt…dannsiegte die Schwächeüber den Ärger…vielleichtbloß, um sichgegen den Schlafzustemmen’ (280) ‘Etwas an dieserAntwortkam Humboldt impertinent vor, docher war zumüde, um darübernachzudenken.’ (280) • Return of sleeping metaphor – losing battle, slipping towards death

12. Technology and Progress - Equipment South America • Humboldt’s equipment – state of the art, tip of progress ‘Humboldt reistenach Salzburg weiter, woersich das teuerste Arsenal von Meßgerätenzulegte, das je ein Mensch besessen hat.’ (37) Russia • Advances in technology, evident from new equipment, direct comparison between clocks ‘eineenglischeUhr, die genauergingals die altefranzösische’ (265) • Ambivalent • Offer opportunity to improve accuracy • Potential to devalue Humboldt’s earlier discoveries • Progress is a constant process, relativity

13. Technology and Progress - Travel South America • Slow maritime travel • Inaccurate maps • Mercy of nature Russia • Advances in travel and communications – main difference is speed ‘StändigfuhrensiemithöchsterGeschwindigkeit, und trotzHumboldts Bitten gab eskeinenZwischenhalt.’ (287) • Problems despite advances in technology, power of nature ‘Seine Abreise war in die Zeit der Schneeschmelzegefallen.’ (268) ‘Auf der WeiterfahrtnachTilsit war die Straßevereist, mehrmalsbrachen die Wagenein.’ (269) ‘DichterNebelumgabsie, Wasser und Himmelwarennichtmehrzuunterscheiden’ (288) • Ambivalent attitude towards progress, highlight limitations

14. Technology and Progress - Power South America Past and Present • Humboldt gains glimpse into past • Connection between Aztec world and Humboldt’s modern era ‘DieseganzeStadt war einKalender. Werhatte das erdacht? Wie gut hatten die Menschen die Sterne gekannt, und was hattensiemitteilenwollen? SeitübertausendJahre war er der erste, der ihreBotschaftlesenkonnte.’ (207) • Disprove linear notion of progress, anti colonial, shakes premise of Enlightenment • Humboldt fails to see significance, relativity of progress ‘So vielZivilisation und so vielGrausamkeit, sagte Humboldt. Was füreinePaarung! Gleichsam der Gegensatzzuallem, wofür Deutschland stehe.’ (208) • Kehlmann’s use of irony • Believes he is at height of progress, power and superiority

15. Technology and Progress - Power Russia Past and Present • Younger generation of scientists, highlight Humboldt’s age • Fondness for older methods, companions fail to understand ‘Das sei, sagteWolodinzu Rose, alserlebte man eineReise in der Zeit’ (275) • Wolodin’s reaction particularly poignant, parallel with Humboldt • Tables have turned • Humboldt’s sense of superiority thrown into question

16. Conclusions • Success or failure of trips dictated by personal and scientific aims of Humboldt • Both expeditions achieve scientific missions • Personal aims are main point of comparison • Articulated through Humboldt’s changing power relationship to external factors • Closely linked to notions of colonial expansion

17. Bibliography Primary literature: Kehlmann, Daniel, Die Vermessung der Welt (Hamburg, Rowohlt, 2005) Secondary literature: Bridges, Roy, ‘Exploration and travel outside Europe (1720-1914)’, in: The Cambridge Companion to Travel Writing ed. by Peter Hulme and Tim Youngs (Cambridge: 2002), pp. 53-69. Conrad, Sebastian, German Colonialism A Short History(Cambridge: 2012) Kehlmann, Daniel, ‘Woist Carlos Montúfar?’, in: Daniel Kehlmanns Die Vermessung der Welt Materialen, Dokumente, Interpretationened. by Gunther Nickel (Hamburg: 2008), pp.11-25. Taberner, Stuart, ‘Daniel Kehlmann’s Die Vermessung der Welt (Measuring the World)’, in The Novel in German since 1990 ed. by Stuart Taberner (Cambridge: 2011), pp. 255-269. Whitehead, Niel L., ‘South America/Amazonia: the forest of marvels’, in:The Cambridge Companion to Travel Writing ed. by Peter Hulme and Tim Youngs (Cambridge: 2002), pp. 122-138.