This Kafkaesque story by Ilse Aichinger opens with a man waking up to find himself bleeding and bound from head to toe. The ropes are loose enough to allow some movement, but cannot be untied. With difficulty, he manages to stand and “walk” to a nearby village where a circus owner hires him as a performer. He not only becomes famous, but insists on wearing the same bonds night and day for the whole season. In an ambiguous conclusion, an act of compassion ends his career. Themes include insecurity, turning adversity into opportunity, freedom vs. restriction, loneliness, self-discovery, compassion.
On a deeper level, the story can be considered an allegory of human existence under (Nazi) oppression. When freedom is restricted by seemingly insurmountable forces, most people choose not to make waves and make the best of a bad situation. Unfortunately, like the bound man, this can lead to blind acceptance of the status quo unless outside forces intervene.
The Bound Man Text / PDF (5,450 words)