Die Verquickung von Handlungsmacht, Determinismus und Freiheit in Leo Perutz’ "Der schwedische Reiter"

The article deals with one of the main problems of Perutz research: the connection in Perutz between determinism and freedom. In research, the balance is mostly on the side of determinism - Perutz results as cultural pessimisist. Here I argue against and show where agency and freedom can be found in Perutz's novel "The Swedish Rider" and to what mechanisms it is bound. The essay thus provides a differentiated spelling out of the relationship between freedom and determinism in Perutz 'novel and makes the break in Perutz' writings, which has been conjured up but not adequately justified, comprehensible from the "Swedish Rider" onwards: Perutz or his narrator commits himself no longer to historical pessimism, but to humanism, which is, however, always tied to an idea of ​​freedom (although, as I show, not to a completely indeterminate one) and explores Perutz's scope in the "Swedish Rider".