Der heilige Bürokrazius: Eine heitere Legende

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26694

Title

Der heilige Bürokrazius: Eine heitere Legende

Language

de

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A satirical legend by Rudolf Greinz, this humorous tale follows Saint Bureaucratus, a holy man who rides a donkey wearing green glasses and preaches that humans are merely cattle. Through absurd bureaucratic rituals, philosophical debates with a simple-minded companion, and a confrontation with a revolutionary king, the story mocks authority, bureaucracy, and human stupidity while celebrating the absurdity of organized religion and state power.

Summary up to 500 words

In Rudolf Greinz's satirical legend *Der heilige Bürokrazius*, the narrative unfolds in a world where rigid procedure supersedes logic and common sense. The story is introduced by Father Hilarius, a Tyrolean priest whose wisdom is fueled by speckknödel and wine, setting a tone where absurdity is treated with solemnity. Central to the tale is Saint Bureaucratus, a peculiar holy man who rides a donkey equipped with green-tinted glasses, viewing the world strictly through the lens of forms and paperwork. Bureaucratus encounters Stultissimus, a man of profound simplicity who lacks a passport, name, or papers, yet possesses a halo that grew naturally. The two form an unlikely partnership, debating intelligence, which they locate in their toes, and arguing that social positions are merely honorary titles for the foolish. Their dynamic is further complicated by the rise of Kare Revoluzzer, a bitter revolutionary who successfully drives a benevolent king into the devil's realm by preaching that no king is needed. Revoluzzer subsequently turns his wrath toward Saint Bureaucratus, calling for his execution. However, the saint defends himself by arguing that without him, humanity loses its identity, registration, and numerical existence. He appeals to the audience's conscience, reminding them that even the humblest beast is honored in scripture, thus silencing the mob. Ultimately, the saint ascends to heaven, leaving behind a legacy of absurd titles bestowed upon every profession in the revolutionary state, from the postman to the crier of obituaries. The story concludes with the saint's heavenly influence transforming the revolutionary into a devoted admirer of bureaucratic titles, highlighting the inescapable nature of systems and the comedic tragedy of human folly. Through this witty allegory, Greinz critiques the dehumanizing effects of excessive bureaucracy while celebrating the resilience of absurdity in the face of revolutionary chaos.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Humor
• Bureaucracy