Anton Ferge Character Analysis in The Magic Mountain

Anton Ferge is a Russian man who is a resident at the Berghof. When Hans first meets Ferge, Ferge is recovering from a pneumothorax that almost killed him. Ferge is one the patients Hans and Joachim visit during Hans’s phase of visiting the Berghof’s “poor sick” in an effort to dignify their suffering. The cousins appreciate Ferge’s frank, unaffected manner, and Hans refers to him as the “simple martyr.” Ferge recovers, though, and takes over Settembrini’s spot at the cousins’ dining table after Settembrini moves out of the sanatorium. He and Wehsal are the Berghof residents with whom Hans is friendliest after Joachim’s death.

Anton Ferge Character Timeline in The Magic Mountain

The timeline below shows where the character Anton Ferge appears in The Magic Mountain. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...choose not to judge him for it. They do enjoy their visit with Anton Karlovitch Ferge, a Russian man recovering from a pneumothorax that almost killed him. During one visit, the... (full context)

Meanwhile, Anton Karlovitch Ferge, whose condition was once so grave, takes over Settembrini’s spot at Hans and Joachim’s table,... (full context)

...and his wife also sit at Hans’s new table. Hans is friendliest with A. K. Ferge (the “martyr” from St. Petersburg) and Ferdinand Wehsal, a merchant from Mannheim who would constantly... (full context)

...his visits to the man’s living quarters. He thinks Naphta’s backstory is honorable and encourages Ferge and Wehsal, who accompany him, to think so too, though Wehsal thinks it’s rather unfortunate... (full context)

One day around Christmas, Hans, Naphta, Settembrini, Ferge, and Wehsal are all walking through town when they start arguing about health and sickness.... (full context)

...terms and phrases they toss back and forth, the more confused Hans gets—and the more Ferge and Wehsal lose interest. Eventually, they part ways with Settembrini and Naphta at their lodging... (full context)

One day, Settembrini and Naphta engage in a very public altercation outside, which Hans, Joachim, Ferge, and Wehsal witness. The altercation takes place in front of the Kurhaus. The four Berghof... (full context)

...go off and find some friends to join them. Hans goes upstairs and rounds up Ferge, Wehsal, and Herr Albin. He also gets Frau Stöhr, Fräulein Kleefeld, and the Magnuses. Clavdia... (full context)

From that point forward, Hans sits and listens to Peeperkorn talk. Sometimes, Wehsal and Ferge accompany him to Peeperkorn’s room, as do Settembrini and Naphta. Hans is glad to introduce... (full context)

...in the forests of the Flüela Valley, located about an hour’s drive away. Wehsal and Ferge join Hans, Peeperkorn, and Clavdia, and the group takes two carriages. Clavdia, Ferge, and Peeperkorn... (full context)

...in town to pick up Settembrini and Naphta at their lodging house. Naphta joins Clavdia, Ferge, and Peeperkorn’s carriage while Settembrini joins Hans and Wehsal’s, and then the party continues on... (full context)

One February afternoon, Hans, Ferge, Wehsal, Settembrini, and Naphta meet up and take a sleigh ride to Monstein. It’s a... (full context)

...which weapon they use, so Settembrini has no say in the matter. Alone with Settembrini, Ferge, and Wehsal, Hans laments the pointlessness of the duel: it's not even over an “actual... (full context)

...the night before and feels awful. His teeth chatter in the cold air as he, Ferge, Wehsal, and Settembrini make their way to the meadow. Suddenly, Settembrini stops, places his hand... (full context)

...waiting. Naphta gets straight to business and asks for the weapons to be presented. Then Ferge draws the boundaries in the snow, and Settembrini and Naphta take their places. Naphta commands... (full context)