The Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass

Main Ideas

• Exploration of memory and time: the book examines how memory and the perception of time affect human consciousness and the perception of reality.
• Mythologizing the everyday: Schulz transforms ordinary events and settings into mythological and symbolic images, creating a unique atmosphere.
• Quest for lost time: the protagonist seeks to reclaim lost time and reconnect with the past, symbolized by his journey to the sanatorium.
• Surrealism and fantasy: the work is rich with surreal and fantastical elements that emphasize the irrationality and complexity of reality.
• Theme of death and immortality: the sanatorium under the hourglass becomes a metaphor for contemplating life, death, and the possibility of immortality through memory and art.