Between angels and men: the perspective of history of ideas in The man without qualities, by Robert Musil

Abstract

In this article, we investigate the opposition between world history and the history of ideas in the modern novel "The Man Without Qualities" by Robert Musil, an iconic work from the early 20th century that addresses the fragmentation of modern human experience and the disintegration of European society. We examine how the sense of possibility affects the development of a "potential" plot, the emphasis on "unimportant" events, the use of irony as a narrative tactic, and ultimately, the comparison between angelic and human perspectives on history. By exploring these aspects, our study aims to broaden the understanding of innovative approaches in modern literature when dealing with complex issues related to history and catastrophe, highlighting the relevance of analyzing the history of ideas in contrast to world history.