it was really just dizzying watching it go back and forth between "FW tortures Gundling" and "FW ennobles Gundling" and "FW tortures Gundling some more" and "FW appoints Gundling to some prestigious position." It just read like the abuser's playbook
Doesn't it just? Though I'm entirely ready to believe FW was acting on instinct, not well thought out long term plans; I mean, we're talking about the man with zero child psychology knowledge who never could figure out why his plan of becoming the fun parent and let SD be the scary discipline parent did not work out, and why his choices to keep his sons chaste and religious teenagers really weren't best suited for such an endeavour.
But when it came to providing just enough incentive to create a state where Gundling could tell himself "it's worth hanging on for" or "I'll be worse off if I leave", and create an atmosphere of perpetual fear, he was dead on. It also makes sense that a younger man like Fassmann, after trying very hard to get the job to begin with, couldn't stand it for more than a few months. Presumably Fassmann had told himself all the humiliations were clearly solely Gundling's fault for being a coward which endured them, that FW by contrasted respected him and would never let him be treated the same way, and when he realised this was self delusion, he called it quits.
And apparently practically *everyone* stops reading when they get to FW and Gundling, and develops selective amnesia, ugh.
Including Wusterhausen guides. I think I told you when I was there the one present said re: the painting showing him "this was the King's fool", and no more.
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Stratemann on Gundling's funeral.
Date: 2021-03-31 08:45 am (UTC)Doesn't it just? Though I'm entirely ready to believe FW was acting on instinct, not well thought out long term plans; I mean, we're talking about the man with zero child psychology knowledge who never could figure out why his plan of becoming the fun parent and let SD be the scary discipline parent did not work out, and why his choices to keep his sons chaste and religious teenagers really weren't best suited for such an endeavour.
But when it came to providing just enough incentive to create a state where Gundling could tell himself "it's worth hanging on for" or "I'll be worse off if I leave", and create an atmosphere of perpetual fear, he was dead on. It also makes sense that a younger man like Fassmann, after trying very hard to get the job to begin with, couldn't stand it for more than a few months. Presumably Fassmann had told himself all the humiliations were clearly solely Gundling's fault for being a coward which endured them, that FW by contrasted respected him and would never let him be treated the same way, and when he realised this was self delusion, he called it quits.
And apparently practically *everyone* stops reading when they get to FW and Gundling, and develops selective amnesia, ugh.
Including Wusterhausen guides. I think I told you when I was there the one present said re: the painting showing him "this was the King's fool", and no more.