the story of a tramp

8/13/2019 The Story of a Tramp

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“The Story of the Tramp” — Thomas Bernhard

The STORY OF THE TRAMP

In the larh !ood he ran "nto a tramp# H"s f"rst tho$%ht had &een that "t m"%ht &e the

esaped sho!man' &$t the tramp !as noth"n% to do !"th that# (ot at all# The pa"nter had &een startled' &ea$se he had fa"led to see the tramp' and tr"pped o)er h"m# “*"+e a orpse

ly"n% "n the m"ddle of the road'” says the pa"nter# A hypotherm"a )"t"m' he had tho$%ht'

and ta+en a step &a+# From the man,s lothes' he o$ld tell he !asn,t from here# -here"s he from. “Str"ped pants' yo$ +no!' the sort that "r$s people !ear' part"$larly "r$s

d"retors#” Ass$m"n% the man !as dead' he had tr"ed to fl"p h"m o)er !"th h"s st"+ so

that he o$ld see h"s fae' “&ea$se the fello! !as ly"n% faedo!n# It,s nat$ral to !ant to

see someone,s fae'” sa"d the pa"nter# B$t no sooner had he appl"ed the st"+ to the “deadman'” than he had em"tted a sream and leaped to h"s feet# “Oh'” the tramp "s sa"d to ha)e

sa"d' “I !as /$st play"n% dead' I !anted to see !hat happened !hen someone omes

aross some&ody else' ly"n% flat on h"s front l"+e a dead man' "n the road' "n the m"ddle of

the forest and the m"ddle of !"nter#” -"th those !ords' the tramp had %ot $p' and &r$sheddo!n h"s pants# “If yo$ th"n+ I,m the esaped sho!man' yo$,re m"sta+en' I ha)e noth"n%

to do !"th those sho!men# Yo$ don,t ha)e to !orry a&o$t that# *et,s sha+e0” He held h"shand o$t to the pa"nter' and "ntrod$ed h"mself# “He %a)e me s$h a ompl"ated name

that I !as $na&le to remem&er "t'” sa"d the pa"nter# “Then he &$ttoned $p h"s oat' !h"h

m$st ha)e ome $ndone# A d"%n"f"ed &$t ompletely red$ed appearane'” sa"d the pa"nter# “It o$ld /$st as eas"ly ha)e &een a trap' I mean' 1od +no!s !hom I o$ld ha)e

eno$ntered#” That !as no one,s "dea of a /o+e' the pa"nter had sa"d' one d"d not s"mply

play dead' that !as a pran+' a s"lly pran+ of the sort teena%ers m"%ht "nd$l%e "n' to %")e

the"r parents a fr"%ht# “2$st "ma%"ne "f the sho+ had %")en me a heart atta+0”—“Then I!o$ld ha)e r$n off'” the tramp "s sa"d to ha)e repl"ed# Anyone o$ld ha)e a heart atta+

at any t"me# “Yes# Of o$rse#”—“(o "n)ol)ement from any other party !o$ld ha)e &eens$speted'” the tramp "s s$pposed to ha)e sa"d# “Of o$rse not'” the pa"nter# In any asethe road !as f$ll of tra+s' !ho !o$ld ha)e ta+en the tro$&le to trae all the d"fferent

foot!ear# “(o' of o$rse not# If yo$ sho$ld happen to &e "n f"nan"al stra"ts'” the pa"nter

"s s$pposed to ha)e sa"d' “then I m$st po"nt o$t to yo$ that I ha)e no money# I am a poorman' and my s"t$at"on "s m"sera&le#”—“Oh'” the tramp "s s$pposed to ha)e repl"ed' “I,)e

%ot eno$%h money#” He !as ama3ed that the pa"nter sho$ld ta+e h"m for a ro&&er' !as "t

perhaps the fa$lt of the "r$s pants he !as !ear"n%# “Oh' no'” the pa"nter "s s$pposed to

ha)e sa"d' “I,m an art"st myself#”—“It,s remar+a&le ho! l"ttle $nderstand"n% "s d"splayed &y people one !o$ld e4pet to ha)e a lot of $nderstand"n%'” the tramp "s s$pposed to

ha)e sa"d# Bes"des' he d"d not d"sl"+e the pa"nter# “-hen I heard someone approah"n%' I

lay do!n "n the road# It !as /$st an e4per"ment#”—“An e4per"ment'” the pa"nter "ss$pposed to ha)e sa"d a%a"n# “Yes' an e4per"ment# And !hat happened "s e4atly !hat I

tho$%ht !o$ld happen# I l"stened to e)ery step yo$ too+# The !ay yo$ !al+' "t,s as

tho$%h yo$ !ere on deer hoo)es'” the tramp sa"d# “I had a fantast" "ma%e of yo$ "n myhead as yo$ approahed# A ompletely fantast" "ma%e of yo$0” H"s pron$n"at"on !as a

l"ttle northern' "t m"%ht &e that he !as from Holste"n or Ham&$r%# “A deer "s om"n% to

present "tself to me'” he sa"d' and5 “That !as p$re poetry#” The pa"nter5 “I $nderstand#”

-hat profess"on d"d the tramp p$rs$e' "n6$"red the pa"nter# “I am the o!ner of a mo)a&le



theater'” he "s s$pposed to ha)e repl"ed# “The !ay yo$,re dressed' one !o$ld ha)e

tho$%ht yo$,d /$st ome from some rather d$&"o$s so"ety p"ee'” the pa"nter "s s$pposed

to ha)e sa"d# “Yo$,re not a m"ll"on m"les o$t there'” the tramp5 “I appeared "n th"sost$me three h$ndred t"mes "n Fran+f$rt am Ma"n# T"ll I o$ld stand "t no lon%er' and

ran a!ay# Yo$ sho$ld try play"n% the same part "n a play three h$ndred t"mes' and a

pretty &or"n% play at that' a so7alled 1eor%e Bernard Sha! play' and yo$,ll %o ra3ytoo#” B$t he !as s$rely a man !ho o$ld l")e &y h"s /o+es# “Oh' I sho$ld say so too# I

ha)e al!ays l")ed &y my /o+es#”—“And ho! do yo$ propose to ont"n$e no!. S"ne' as

I am fored to ass$me' yo$ are pretty m$h at loose ends' dr"ft"n% here and there. Ho!do yo$ mean to ont"n$e.”—“I ne)er as+ed myself that'” the tramp "s sa"d to ha)e

ans!ered# S"ne he' the tramp' the theater mana%er' the d"retor of a so7alled mo)a&le

theater' had no h"ldren' "t !asn,t so )ery d"ff"$lt to l")e “$nto the day#” B$t !as that

ent"rely real"st"' sa"d the pa"nter# Men of h"s 8the tramp,s9 type had freedom' d"srep$te'and h$mor !r"tten "n the"r faes# “I am sa"d to ha)e p"+ed $p a fe! ma%" tr"+s from

my father'” the tramp "s s$pposed to ha)e sa"d' “that e)eryone l"+es# For "nstane ho! to

ma+e my head d"sappear# It,s )ery easy#” He o$ld do a demonstrat"on' “"f the %entleman

ared to see'” and the pa"nter d"d are' and the tramp d$ly made h"s head d"sappear# “Theman only e4tended as far as h"s Adam,s apple# -hat I say "s tr$e# It may str"+e yo$ as

thoro$%hly "mpla$s"&le' &$t "t,s as tr$e as the fat that I,m stand"n% "n front of yo$ no!#The !hole appearane of that tramp : And /$st "ma%"ne th"s !hole sene ta+"n% plae "n

the m"ddle of the larh !ood' !here !e ta+e the for+ do!n "nto the ra)"ne :” Then' "n a

tr"e' the tramp,s head !as &a+ "n "ts or"%"nal plae# “That,s /$st a s"mple tr"+' ma+"n%my head d"sappear'” sa"d the tramp' “!hat,s harder "s play"n% &all !"th yo$r o!n le%s#”

Of o$rse the pa"nter !anted to see that ma%" tr"+ as !ell# And s$ddenly the tramp,s

le%s ame do!n from the s+y' and he h$n+ered do!n on the %ro$nd and played &all !"th

them' +"ds, &all %ames# -h"le he !as play"n%' he sa"d5 “I,ll stop r"%ht a!ay "f yo$ feelsared#” The pa"nter o$ld feel a sh")er' &$t he st"ll sa"d5 “(o' no' I,m not sared#” He

!as' as yo$ say' asto$nded &y !hat !as p$t on for h"m# “I ha)e ne)er seen s$h

ons$mmate ma%" tr"+s'” he sa"d# “(o! I,m too &ored to %o on'” the tramp "s s$pposedto ha)e sa"d' and he stopped# “The th"n% !"th the head !as as &affl"n% to me as the other

one' !"th the le%s'” the pa"nter sa"d' “an yo$ "ma%"ne "t. Of o$rse' as !"th e)eryth"n%'

there m$st &e some sort of +na+ to "t0” All Par"s had la"n at the tramp,s feet' and "f hefelt l"+e "t' "t !o$ld l"e at h"s feet a%a"n' only he d"dn,t feel l"+e ha)"n% Par"s ly"n% at h"s

feet a%a"n# “I,m &ored#” In *ondon he had &een presented to the 6$een# If the %entleman

!o$ld l"+e "t' he !o$ld &e happy to %")e h"m the address of h"s mo)a&le theater# “It,s

small' &$t e46$"s"te'” he "s s$pposed to ha)e sa"d' “and "t an %o "nto at"on any!hereyo$ re6$"re#” It !as the most e46$"s"te of theaters# The most e46$"s"te theater "n the

!orld# B$t one day he !as fed $p !"th ma%" tr"+s—“"t,s so easy to %et fed $p !"th

ma%" tr"+s”—and had t$rned "nstead to p$re' tr$e art' the sort of art that "sn,t dependenton ma%" tr"+s# (o!' he !as s$re the %entleman !o$ld lo)e to +no! !h"h !as harder'

to perform ma%" tr"+s of the sort he had /$st performed' and !h"h !ere $n6$est"ona&ly

amon% the &est "n the !orld' or else to at "n stra"%ht theater' to p$t o)er a tr$e art form'then' as e4empl"f"ed &y the theater' an art !"tho$t tr"+s' as for "nstane' “play"n% ;"n%

*ear#” They !ere &oth e6$ally d"ff"$lt' one !as harder than the other' &$t "t !as a &etter

th"n% to at "n a play than to perform tr"+s' he personally fo$nd at"n% far more

sat"sfy"n%' and for that reason he had ma%"+ed $p h"s mo)a&le theater “o$t of th"n a"r'”



as he sa"d# “Tho$%h' of o$rse that too !as a st$nt' a sort of tr"+'” sa"d the tramp#

At"n%' moreo)er' !as h"%hly "ntellet$al' !hereas perform"n% ma%" tr"+s !asn,t

"ntellet$al at all# Only the tr"+ "tself !as# “Of o$rse "t al!ays omes do!n to thea$d"ene#” And he sa"d' s$pposedly5 “The a$d"enes for my ma%" tr"+s are a tho$sand

t"mes dearer to me than the a$d"enes !ho !ath me at"n%#” The a$d"enes for h"s tr"+s

!o$ld +no! r"%ht a!ay !hat "t !as that !as so asto$nd"n% to them' !hereas thea$d"enes for h"s at"n% ne)er seemed to +no!# “Theater a$d"enes are "n)ar"a&ly

d"sappo"nt"n%# A$d"enes for ma%" tr"+s ne)er are#” And yet he !o$ld rather at' e)en

tho$%h he !as &etter s$"ted to do"n% tr"+s# “Theater a$d"enes don,t ma+e me anyhapp"er than ma%"7tr"+ a$d"enes'” he sa"d# “A$d"enes for ma%" tr"+s are as they are#

Theater a$d"enes are ne)er as they are' they are al!ays as they o$%ht not to &e' they

!ant to &e as they are not :” The a$d"enes for ma%" tr"+s !ere ne)er so st$p"d that

they fa"led to real"3e ho! st$p"d they !ere' &$t theater a$d"enes !ere' "f anyth"n%' morest$p"d# “Most ators are so st$p"d they don,t e)en not"e ho! st$p"d the a$d"enes are#

Bea$se "n %eneral ators are e)en more st$p"d than a$d"enes' e)en tho$%h an a$d"ene

"s "nf"n"tely st$p"d#” -hy d"d he not demonstrate any more ma%" tr"+s' the pa"nter

!anted to +no!# “Ma%" tr"+s of themsel)es are not sat"sfy"n%'” the tramp "s s$pposed toha)e sa"d' “&$t a play an &e sat"sfy"n% "n "tself#” He d"dn,t +no!' any!ay' !hy he no!

preferred at"n% to demonstrat"n% ma%" tr"+s# R"%ht at the moment' he !asn,t do"n% oneth"n% or the other# “B$t I !"ll demonstrate my ma%" tr"+s a%a"n0” he "s s$pposed to ha)e

sa"d' “and Par"s !"ll l"e at my feet a%a"n0” Then he s$pposedly as+ed !hat the 6$"+est

!ay do!n to the stat"on !as# “1o do!n the ra)"ne'” the pa"nter told h"m# Then5 “I,d l"+eto +no! at !hat a%e ma%" tr"+s of themsel)es are no lon%er sat"sfy"n%#” The tramp

refleted &r"efly and sa"d5 “That,s d"fferent "n eah performer,s "nd")"d$al ase# B$t often

the ma%" tr"+s are no lon%er sat"sfy"n%' e)en &efore they ha)e &een mastered'” he "s

s$pposed to ha)e sa"d# The pa"nter offered to aompany the tramp part of the !ay do!nthe ra)"ne# “I +no! my !ay aro$nd here'” he "s s$pposed to ha)e sa"d# “Yo$ lose yo$r

foot"n% some!here' and yo$,ll &rea+ a le%# <ome !"th me0” Before they parted' the

pa"nter as+ed h"m5 “-hat !as "t that prompted yo$ to try that s"lly nonsense o$t onme.”—“S"lly nonsense.” the tramp "s s$pposed to ha)e ans!ered# “Yo$ mean' play"n%

dead "n front of yo$. That,s a pass"on of m"ne' that,s all#” And then he s$ddenly

d"sappeared# “He !as as s$pple as yo$,d e4pet a performer of ma%" tr"+s to &e'” the pa"nter sa"d# “I,)e ne)er met anyone l"+e that' !ho la"ms to &e the propr"etor of a

=mo)a&le theater#, Or do yo$ th"n+ I,)e made $p the !hole story.” I th"n+ "t,s tr$e

myself#

>From Thomas Bernhard,s no)el Frost#

the story of a tramp

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