“If you are unwell or are the least apprehensive of being so, permit me to differ. I will speak to you a fitter season. These are no tidings for a feeble frame.”
Analyzing an individual and the environment is critical before breaking heavy news. Francis has just learned that his brother is no more, and he figures out how he can break the news. In such scenarios, Francis has to consider two things. Firstly, his father is not in good health, and hearing bad news can worsen his condition. Secondly, the father will likely demand to know the cause of his son's death immediately. Consequently, the emphasis of this quote is not only to develop the theme of duty but also to take caution before taking any action. In this regard, Francis asks himself questions about how his father will react to his breaking news and decides to have the conversation at the right time in the next season.
"Forgive me, my child! Reproach not thy unhappy father, whose fondest hopes have proved visionary. The merciful God, who has sent these tears through Charles, will, through thee, my Francis, wipe them from my eyes!"
A parent's worst experience is to have a son who chooses to be a robber. Charles has decided to belong to a dangerous profession that scares people. Moor thinks his tribulations are due to Charles's decision to deviate from moral principles. On the other hand, Francis knows that his father loves Charles more, which makes him jealous. Moor notices that Francis is not happy, and he accepts that it is his fault. Therefore, parenthood emerges as a vital theme from this quote. The reader learns that no matter how strict a parent can be; still a child can choose a different route which is disappointing.
“Gracious Heavens? What Am I doomed to hear?”
There is no single living parent who would wish to bury his child. Every parent wishes to see his children prosper and live long. However, death is unpredictable and can strike at any time you least expect. The sad reality that befalls Moor is that he will bury his oldest son, Charles. Here, death emerges as the main issue under discussion. However, the tactical approach Francis takes while delivering the news about his brother's demise to their father is top-notch. The sad news is not welcome, but sometimes there is no option but to accept reality. Francis delivers the message most compassionately to ensure that he does not hurt his father, who is already feeling depressed. The father receives the news and is heartbroken to learn that Charles is no more.
"Pale as death, stinking down on his chair and cursing the day when his ear was first greeted with the lisping cry of the father. I have not yet been able to discover all, and of the little, I do know, I dare tell you only a part."
Schiller uses a simile to emphasize the significance of consolation and the unity of purpose during hard times. Consolation creates a good environment to enhance confidence, enabling an individual to move on. The death of a loved one should not be the end of the living because life has to continue. The author is keen on reminding readers of the importance of letting go and focusing on the future. Francis is aware that his father will not heal from the death of his brother, but he forges a way of making him strong and seeing the reason for living another day.
“So you said then. Now, have you found it so? You may envy the meanest peasant on your estate in this that he is not the father of such a son. So long as you call him yours, you are wretched. Your misery will grow with his eyes-it will lay you in your grave."
Sibling rivalry is not new in this world, and the author vividly uses France's frustration to drive the point home. Parents tend to mark some children as their favorite while ignoring others. Francis and Charles are siblings, but their father loves Moor. Consequently, the son who feels rejected can curse his father, which is exactly the author's point. The bottom line is that parents should not be impartial when showing love to their children.
