Die Weiße Rose

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

77012

Title

Die Weiße Rose

Language

de

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in the American Southwest and Mexico, this novel follows Mr. Collins, a ruthless oil magnate who justifies his ruthless exploitation of workers and land as a necessary duty to civilization. Through his eyes, the text exposes the brutal machinery of capitalism, where human lives are expendable for profit, and the very concept of 'civilization' is revealed as a facade built on greed and violence.

Summary up to 500 words

In B. Traven's *Die Weiße Rose*, the narrative offers a searing critique of unchecked capitalism through the trajectory of Mr. Collins, a once-respected executive of the Anthracite Company who is inexorably drawn into the ruthless machinery of industrial expansion. Initially operating within legal boundaries, Collins is forced by the demands of the system to abandon retirement and pivot from coal to oil, recognizing that the future of civilization hinges on controlling the nation's 'life nerves': grain, cotton, coal, iron, and ultimately oil. He rationalizes the displacement of farmers and the death of workers as unfortunate but necessary side effects of progress, dismissing the suffering of the Mexican people in the Rosa Blanca region as expendable tools for production. The story details the chaotic and deadly race to drill new wells in Mexico during a period of civil war. Collins and his secretary, Ida, operate with cold efficiency, ignoring the deaths of drillers and peons crushed by machinery or killed by falling equipment. Ida herself evolves into a creature of pure industry, interpreting the company's telegrams not as reports of human tragedy, but as data on 'dry holes' versus production output. The novel highlights the stark contrast between the immense wealth generated for the company and the poverty and violence suffered by the local population, who are reduced to slaves in a lawless environment where contracts are ignored and rights are trampled. Subplots involving Collins's personal life, including his pragmatic marriage and his elevation of Betty to 'Empress,' underscore his growing detachment from humanity as his power expands. The narrative introduces Abner, a character sent to acquire the Rosa Blanca land, who interacts with local figures like Frigillo, further illustrating the exploitation of the region. The story culminates in a reflection on the inevitability of conflict over resources, suggesting that the next great war will be fought for oil and rubber. Ultimately, the novel serves as a cynical indictment of capitalism, illustrating how the pursuit of profit drives individuals to commit atrocities while convincing themselves they are serving a higher good for humanity.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77012.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg77012.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-04 21:18 UTC

Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction
• Politics