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The Traveler

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Antal Szerb's The Traveler is an outstanding piece of work. Peter Hargitai's translation of this great novel is brilliant. In addition, his afterward, which includes details and reveals secrets about the novel and its characters, is both interesting and appealing to the readers. This story is exploding with love, life, death, and mystery. Not only does this volume keep the readers in suspense, but it takes the readers on a journey to a place where anything is possible.

This was one of my first translated reads, and I must say it was nothing like what I expected. But hey, that's what one looks for when reading foreign novels, right? The characters were anything but usual, and the story's events were unpredictable. Mihaly, the protagonist, can't seem to figure out what he wants in life. He's just one of the characters that the reader can relate to in how he is on this road to realizing who he is, who he wants to be. At the same time, Mihaly has such an unorthodox way of thinking, that it keeps the reader on their toes as to what he's going to do next-whether it be commit suicide or escape his honeymoon to find a child-hood friend. The biggest theme of the novel seems to be self discovery, which is a theme that everyone can relate to. When reading the book, it's important to remember that it has been translated from Hungarian. Interestingly enough, the English-readers have had a different take on the characters than that of the Hungarian-readers. Overall I would suggest for others to read the novel, not only for the enjoyment of it, but to also expand their knowledge of other cultures.

The Traveler, written by Antal Szerb and translated by Peter Hargitai, illustrates the protagonist Mihaly as he is on his honeymoon with his wife Erzsi visiting Italy, a city that he has been dying to see. However, as the story progresses we can see the journey of their honeymoon turn into a frantic quest in which Mihaly searches for his young childhood friend Eva, after hearing that Tamas, Eva's brother and Mihaly's close friend, committed suicide. In a sense, The Traveler is a psychic journey through oneself in which the adolescent becomes an adult. In the novel we see Mihaly the adolescent, as he has no trouble retelling his childhood tales to his new wife Erzsi, including the fact that they used to play together by acting plays, in which Eva was the punisher and Tamas and Mihaly were the victims. The adolescent that we see is more evident by his apparent infatuation with Eva and her "smile" upon inflicting punishment, which according to Mihaly, is similar to the way Erzsi smiles
The journey begins when Erzsi and Mihaly were on a train ride toward Rome, when Mihaly suddenly got off at the Terontola station to grab a cup of coffee and then not knowingly boarded the wrong train, which headed toward Perugia. Instead of panicking and worrying for Erzsi, he surprisingly continues on, exploring the city of Perugia. He wanders so much that he ends up suffering from a severe case of fatigue and has to be hospitalized. Mihaly spends an extended period of time at the hospital while he recuperates, and Ellesley, a doctor at the hospital who speaks English and was attracted to Mihaly's case, tends to him. After Mihaly recovers, Ellesley sends him to the city of Gubbio to see a priest, a place were Ellesley had an encounter with a hallucinating woman. Little did he know, but the priest he was going to see was Ervin himself, locally known as Pater Severinus. Seeking spiritual guidance, Mihaly pleas with Ervin to tell him what he should do and Ervin tells him to just head toward Rome. Following instructions, Mihaly heads toward Rome not knowing what was waiting for him.
Once in Rome, a series of events unfold around Mihaly, the most critical ones being filing for divorce due to a lack of money and more importantly, he caught a glimpse of Eva. Upon seeing her, Mihaly delays his return home because now he knew why he had to go to Rome; however, his happiness is short lived because Eva sent a letter to Mihaly indicating to not come looking for her. Unable to comprehend why Eva would not want to see him, Mihaly's happiness hits rock bottom. During this time, Erzsi visits Mihay and tells him what has conspired and they say their goodbyes, because they both know that their relationship is over. Furthermore, Mihaly receives a letter from his family back in Budapest, urging him to return home. Then, in a sudden turn of events, Eva appears at Mihaly's doorstep and explains to him what has transpired with Tamas and where she is going from here. Upon hearing this, Mihaly ask one favor of her: to be at his side when he commits suicide. Eva promises and they agree to meet again a couple of days later. During the last remaining hours leading to the event, Mihaly's plan is halted by the baptism of Vannina's cousin (which he has forgotten) and has no choice but to attend, stopping his suicide attempt. The following day, after awakening from yesterday's festivities, he eventually winds up in his hotel room, where his father greets him. Mihaly is surprised to see his father, as it is unusual for him to leave the family business. Mihaly's father pleas with his son to head back home, and eventually Mihaly accepts and they are on their way home.
Toward the end of the novel, we see Mihaly the adolescent become an adult. During the visit of his father, Mihaly stated that "everything else seemed so insignificant, Eva and his death-wish, even Italy" (The Traveler, 231). Furthermore, Erzsi wrote a letter to Mihaly stating that "I am no longer coming for you and that you must live, that the death of Tamas had to do with himself and that we have to find our own deaths" (234). And finally, the last lines of the novel say that "he must stay alive...live like a rat among the ruins...and while one lives, it is always possible for something to happen" (234). The Traveler is Mihaly's journey as he makes the transition from an adolescent into an adult.

The Traveler is a tale of a cyclical journey taken by an androgynous character named Mihaly in a quest to find himself. This same journey is also taken by his wife, Erzsi, who discovers that her place is not as Mihaly's wife. Mihaly attempts with all his might to evade the natural process of growing into an adult. He marries Erzsi only because it is expected of him. When he leaves her during their honeymoon both go in seemingly opposite ways, only to be searching for the same thing: their purpose and meaning in life.

The only people that have ever given Mihaly tolerance and a sense of belonging are his childhood friends, Tamas and Eva, since they are also androgynous. Therefore, he feels the need to remain in that era of his life forever. As the reader is informed of the games played at the Ulpius house, it is clear that in Mihaly's world the typical male and female roles are blurred and, at times, exchanged. "Eva enjoyed being the woman who cheats on men, betrays men, and eventually murders men; Tamas and I loved being cheated on, loved being bertrayed, loved being murdered, or at least greatly humiliated." (Szerb 31) He emphasizes the erotic quality of his desire to be a victim. "I loved being the victim. I would think about it from morning on, and spend the entire day waiting, yes..."

Mihaly is presented as a heterosexual man who is afraid of facing his homosexual tendencies. He makes the reader confused in order to portray his own uncertainty about life, death and his role in life. Mihaly reacts to Tamas' suicide with a certain jealousy, wishing he could have taken his place. Mihaly saw death as an erotic end to the suffering and hardship that life entailed for him. It is understandable that death seemed appealing to a man who is not sure of his identity and simply wishes he could assimilate to society.

Both Mihaly and Erzsi visit the past in their journey. Mihaly finds Eva, while Erzsi has dinner with her ex-husband, Zoltan. After evoking these earlier times, they are able to realize that they no longer have the same desires. Mihaly no longer desires to fall victim to the erotic call of his death wish. He is interrupted by a baptism, a rebirth that allows him to be free. Eva, on the other hand, realizes she does not want to live the life of a student. Essentially, they have both returned to where they begun but are now armed with a newfound knowledge of who they are. Overall, the book was inspiring, as it conveyed humanity's fundamental need to be accepted and to find a reason and purpose to live

The Traveler is a classic novel written by Antal Szerb and translated to English by Mr. Peter Hargitai. This a classic novel from the 20th Century published in 1937. To get a better idea, of the novel's ideas, we have to understand that the novel was written in times of the Great Depression, times of many suicides, when life was almost nothing o just nothing. The novel begins when Mihaly, the main character, is in his honeymoon talking to his wife, Erzsi, about his past, his childhood. What I find very interesting from this book, is that life was nothing. Mihaly believed death as being erotic. Mihaly and his friend Tamas always liked to be the victim. They wanted to be killed every moment of their lives. Tamas and Mihaly tried to suicide themselves with no fear at all. I enjoyed the book. I liked it because I could understand some personalities from that time. The book reflects some personalities from those times. And it kept my attention because I was interested in learning more from the main character, Mihaly, which has a very unique personality. I have read similar books from the same times, and I have found out that life was nothing. This is a classic piece from Hungarian Literature. I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to know about what kind of ideas the people had in those times, the thirties in 20th Century.

The Traveler which tells a story about an obsession of death is written by Antal Szerb but translated by Hungarian writer Peter Hargitai. The book begins in the romantic city of Venice, Italy. He was on his honeymoon with his new wife Erzsi. The honeymoon ended up becoming a disaster. It first began when Mihály wondered off to the other side of the city on the Fundamenta Nuova, which he could see the island of cemeteries and ended up in the dark alleys (Szerb 5). Erzsi became worried and fatigue but finally Mihály came back. Yet, he still found some way to be alone. Mihály was a heavy drinker. He continuously drinks sweet wine, such as Samosian and Mavrodaphne. Italian wine was too bitter for him which is a symbol that he has not become a man yet. While dining in Ravenna at a piazza the couple was interrupted by his old friend János Szepetneki. They began to have a small altercation, which is when Erzsi became curious what it was about. Mihály began by telling her his life story that he has never shared with anyone before. At a very young age Mihály was plagued by terrible depression. He met his best friend Tamas were they had similar interest. While playing their childhood games they both like to be the victim. "I became rather good at taking poison or boiling in oil" (Szerb 27). Mihály always found death as being erotic. Being the victim like in the movies was already directing his fantasies (Szerb 28). Towards the end of the book he leaves his childhood fantasies and death behind after the rebirth of his godson. I would recommend this book to anyone who love being on edge and like books of self-discovery.

The Traveler by Antal Szerb is a unique novel, shadowed by an unraveling spiritual journey that draws the reader into the past with distinct and idiosyncratic characters that convey a sense of reality through their fantasy. The language used in The Traveler has a somewhat monotonous harmony within the words, and this tone is a compliment to the inner mood of the main character, Mihaly. Part I of the book drags quite a bit, perhaps because of the overuse of direct conversation between characters whose personalities are still unknown to the audience. Despite the drama of the unfolding events, this reader was confused by some of Mihaly's erratic actions, but one may conclude by the end of the book that misunderstanding is entirely the point of this character. The interlude between past and present is a creative and smooth transition into the childhood of Mihaly, with Tamas and Eva, who are brother and sister with a co-dependently disturbed sense of reality. Together, the three outsiders form a bond that only arises from unfathomable love, understanding and acceptance. Some people when they are children play hospital or school and they grow up to be doctors and teachers. Tamas as a teenager played his death game with Eva and Mihaly and never has to grow up. Perhaps already so disillusioned by life at such a tumultuous age, the siblings misdirect their desire to be comforted into an erotic, seductive demise, free from the torture of living. All feel a sense of alienation, both from their families and from the outside social world. When the three spirits come together, the theatrical game created from this longing ironically becomes something worth living for.
Each character in the novel seems to have one strong trait that identifies them. Mihaly is by no stretch of the imagination a macho or abrasive masculine ideal, and maybe his submissive and effeminate traits lead him to idealize Tamas is such an adoring, obsessive manner. The love for Eva, the mystery, which grows out of Tamas's absence, seems more like another desperate attempt at conformity, which always seems like a goal out of reach. The secondary characters may even represent the aspects of Mihaly that he is unable to get in touch with. Erzsi's love and hope, the doctor's patient compassion, Janos's deceitful intervention, Ervin's passion and devotion, and even Zoltan's contrived kindness all balance together help Mihaly find his way. It is his instinct for noncompliance and a deep interest in antiquity, paired with a strong sense of wanderlust that makes this story captivating and thought-provoking. Mihaly has impressions that are often in disparity with the reality of the world, as if his mind was wired differently than most human experiences. He is tortured by a shadowed bottomless abyss that some may define as social anxiety, which closes the throat, shudders through every nerve, and makes death feel as close as a prayer. His great escape from his surrender to a conventional and compromising life can be seen as a triumph over normality and feigned attempts at a life that would please his family and traditional society. It is not until his solo journey across foreign lands that he is truly able to look inward and discover himself among the ancient cities and progressive travelers that teach him as much about himself as they do about the pleasures of life. The narrative is the cascading tale of growing into maturing, of love, nonconformity and surrender to truth. It is told with passion, honesty and celebration, giving the reader a sense of hope for progress within the human condition. At the end, when Mihaly must decide if he will succumb to the seduction of death, it is the very essence of life itself: a baptism and a feast that keeps him from the sweet surrender of suicide. The story is endearingly cyclical, each character from the beginning makes an appearance and an impression later, and as with any newfound enlightenment, the only remaining journey is the path home.

The Traveler depicts the journey of the story's protagonist, Mihály, towards a personal discovery: his self. The story begins in Venice, where Mihály and his new wife, Erzsi, are on their honeymoon. As Mihály begins to open up to Erzsi, he tells her of his childhood; something he wishes that he could go back to. As Mihály's memory becomes deeper and more profound, as it already was, he starts to enlighten Erzsi and fantasize about his childhood friends: Tamás, Evá, Ervin, and János. Tamás and Evá Ulpius are the only two people that Mihály had ever cared for. Although he was not in love with Evá, he holds a deep respect for her. But, he insists, that if he was in love either of them, it was Tamás. "If you must insist I loved anyone, then it would have to Tamás. Tamás was my ideal." (Szerb, 31) The Ulpius house, where the brother and sister grew up, was a house in which there were no rules or boundaries. The free way of living liberated each and every one of the friends that stayed after school, and sometimes during school, to play there. Most of the time they would act out scenes of a play, where Evá played a woman deceiver, and Mihály and Tamás would be the victims of some sort. "Evá loved being the woman who cheats on men, betrays men, and eventually murders men; Tamás and I loved being cheated on, loved being betrayed, loved being murdered, or at least greatly humiliated..." (Szerb, 31) Although the Ulpius house's regulations went against his own family's morals and upbringings, Mihály feels complete dedication to the siblings, almost as if he is obsessed with them. As Mihály concludes his story to Erzsi, he tells of Tamás' suicide, Evá's disappearance, and Ervin's conversion in religions.
As the novel proceeds, Mihály leaves Erzsi, and wanders through Europe searching for answers; for meaning in life; for Evá. The only thing that ever made sense in Mihály's life were Tamás and Evá, and since Tamás is dead, he feels the need to find Evá. For what purpose, he hasn't figured out yet. Eventually, Mihály ends up in Perugia, where he meets a young, American art major, Millicent. Because he has spent all of his honeymoon money, he is forced to borrow money from Millicent, who is very wealthy. While he is contemplating on taking the money from the girl, which is not a proper thing to do, he really starts to think of his actions. "Let's be honest about it: wasn't he regressing back to the ethics of the Ulpius house?" (Szerb, 105) Mihály can only relate rash, unsuitable, and erroneous actions back to the Ulpius house, where he learned to free his mind and do what he wants.
Erzsi, on the other hand, stays in Paris with a friend because she is so baffled as to why Mihály left her on their honeymoon. Although she finds Mihály later in the novel, and should be quite angry with him, she refuses to let him hurt her again. She also promises to him that she never wants to see him hurt. Erzsi, though she thought she had found her true happiness with Mihály, is also on a path towards self discovery and finding what she wants in the world. This is how Mihály and Erzsi are running on parallel tracks through the entire novel. Mihály is going forward trying to find Evá, but ironically, answers to his past while Erzsi is moving backward; starting over again with her ex-husband Zoltán. But both, no matter which direction they are heading, are leaning towards the unearthing of who they are inside.
Erzsi realizes that she is not a part of Mihály's life in the way that she wants to be. When she becomes acquainted with János Szepetneki in Paris, she still longs for Mihály and acceptance in to his life. "Erzsi allowed herself to languish in Szepetneki's desire, feeling that though this desire, through its awakening, she would truly become Mihály's woman and enter the magic circle, the old Ulpius-circle, Mihály's one and only reality." (Szerb, 151) This is correct, the Ulpius house had become Mihály's only truth; the only real thing in this world for him to keep faith in.
Before Mihály ends up in Rome, where is sent to on account of Ervin's insight, he meets Dr. Ellesley. Dr. Ellesley, immediately upon encountering Mihály is able to diagnose him. Dr. Ellesley asks Mihály if he has lost someone close to him, in which Mihály says yes. Mihály even admits to wanting to go back to the only era that ever made sense to him. "I'm suffering from acute nostalgia. I want to be young again. Do you have any medicine for that?" (Szerb, 112) Although Mihály seems like a confusing and complex man, it is easy to understand why his heart aches.
Once Mihály sees Evá in Rome, he vows to become part of the working class just to be in the same city as her, in hopes that he will run in to her again. Finally, they are brought together by János, who told Evá of Mihály's location. When Evá tells Mihály that she will be moving to India, Mihály finally wants to go through with his own suicide, just like Tamás had done. When certain unplanned events arise, Mihály is unable to go through with his premeditated death. Evá leaves the country and Mihály's father comes to Rome and brings Mihály back to Budapest. Eventually, when Mihály realizes that he must stay alive because he is weak and has surrendered, he comprehends the idea of death and that at some time, he doesn't know when, but it will find him, not the other way around.

"The Traveler" by Antal Szerb is a book relating the difficult life of Mihaly, the journey he goes through being a teenager dealing with suicidal thoughts, alcohol consumption, and even drug consumption. In this book, Mihaly is relating his life to her wife Erzsi telling her about his adventures, games, and love stories of his teenage years, not knowing that this will fill Mihaly head with thoughts of "what would have been if?" questions. So in the middle of his honeymoon in Italy he starts the search of all the questions he had left unanswered leaving her newly wife alone, and also not knowing that this search will put him in danger and just in the door of death. This book will have you literally hooked wondering what will happen next, if you like suspense this book is the right for you I my self read it in just two days that's how good it is.

The Traveler written by Attila Jozsef, and translated by the Hungarian professor Peter Hargitai is a story about self discovery in a world that is blurred by androgynistic ideas, and the ideals of death.
Mihaly, the main character of the novel is overshadowed by his childhood ideas that have kept him away from becoming an adult. Being trapped inside a bubble filled with confusion, Mihaly usually blurs reality and is transported to a world where his memories haunt him, and he is taken through a psychic journey, in which at the end of the ride, he discovers that he became an adult, and the ideas that always dug under his mind where left behind.
Although the novel has many points for conversation, the idea of androgyny stands out the most. Mihaly is obsessed with his best friend from adolescence Tamas, and his sister Eva. When together, the plays that they would act on would depict Tamas as the sensitive character, while Eva was the character that would inflict pain and torture to the play.
"IF you must insist I loved anyone, then it would have to be Tamas. Tamas was my ideal. Eva, more of a bonus, an erotic tool in the game..." (Szerb 31) With such passion, Mihaly confessed that the Ulpius' where somehow everything to him during his teenage years.
Through the following lines, one could tell that Mihaly was always the person that blurred himself in the plays that both Tamas and Eva took part in. Mihaly's obsession with death was the downfall to his maturity in life. While speaking to Erzsi, his now wife at their honeymoon, he let her in on the little secret that was very important to him because the secret that he confessed, explained his obsession with death.
" And I should tell you, although it's difficult to talk about it, even after all this wine-- but I think my wife ought to know: I loved being the victim..." (Szerb 30) His point in life was to have a heroic death as the deaths that were portrayed in the plays that the Ulpius and him acted when young. The thought of Tamas killing himself, haunted Mihaly, and wanting to follow the steps of his idol, Mihaly wanted to die as he frequently would in his childhood plays: by being the victim.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone, because it helps clarify many of the confusions that one may go through in life. Letting go or our demons is the only way to move forward, and this initiative is exemplified in this book.