The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story

“On top of that, there’s the consistent supervision of a physician who regulates the diet. And also exercise in the fresh air. Nature itself cures us.”

Dr. Semperweiss provides assurances to Wojnicz that the treatment offered is entirely natural. For Wojnicz, however, society’s idea of “natural” is, itself, a concern. His particular medical situation has alienated him; he takes no comfort from the doctor’s sales pitch as he does not believe that he fits within the social definitions of natural, normal, or anything that can be resolved through diet and exercise.

“What counted were manliness, energy, social work for the public good, rationalism, pragmatism. He was especially fond of the word pragmatism.”

Wojnicz fears his father’s influence while also fearing his father’s disappointment. His father’s proud and loud proclamations on a variety of subjects make this particularly pressing, particularly his father’s understanding of manliness. Wojnicz has been raised with a male identity by his father, even though he does not conform to his father’s traditional ideas about masculinity. Instead, his father has begun to emphasize pragmatism, trying to find a resolution for the way in which his own son challenges his notions of manliness.

“The liqueur set everyone’s thoughts on the right tracks, and the conversation turned quite naturally to the regular activities that Opitz organized for the patients each afternoon following their treatments.”

The Schwärmerei is used in an almost medicinal manner. Though the alcohol seems to have no physical effects on the patients beyond that of regular alcohol, the Schwärmerei does induce a certain type of mindset. The patients frequently indulge in Schwärmerei until it becomes their entire medical regime, replacing everything else with its intoxicating effects.