The unknown quantity cover

The unknown quantity

by Hermann Broch

In Hermann Broch's "The Unknown Quantity," published in 1933, the author explores the chaos and eventual impossibility of life within a society experiencing moral decay, focusing on Richard Hieck's struggle to reconcile love, science, passion, and reason as societal and family values erode. Here's a more detailed overview: THEMES: The book delves into the breakdown of societal values and the challenges individuals face when these values crumble, ultimately leading to the impossibility of a meaningful existence. RICHARD HIECK: The central character, Richard, is a sensitive individual who inherits his father's interest in the night sky and pursues mathematics, but his life is complicated by the conflicting demands of love, science, passion, and reason. SOCIETAL DECAY: Broch examines how societal values in decline can undermine individuals and their relationships, creating an environment of chaos and ultimately, impossibility. PUBLISHED DATE: 1933.

More by Hermann Broch

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?