Caliban in Qalandiya

Abstract

At an internal checkpoint in Saxony, Michael Kohlhaas’ calamitous trip is prompted by a missing travel permit. Kohlhaas, innocent and honest, becomes a suicide terrorist of sorts, after his long and arduous journey culminates in revenge. Could it have been otherwise? Martin Luther’s character in the novel believes that Kohlhaas should have forsaken his quest for infinite justice and refuses to pardon him, though he does act on his behalf. And Kleist? As for Kleist, Kohlhaas could not have done otherwise; the souls of men interest him, not moral-political questions.