Not Logged in.
Book Jacket

The Winter Soldier


A story of war and medicine, of finding love in the sweeping tides of history, ...
Summary and Reviews
Excerpt
Reading Guide
Author Biography

Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

Created: 09/19/18

Replies: 14

Posted Sep. 19, 2018 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath, in spite of an intense desire to do so?


Posted Sep. 22, 2018 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
louisee

Join Date: 06/29/15

Posts: 143

RE: Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

Lucius couldn't talk to anyone about Horvath because he felt so guilty about what happened to him when Lucius didn't comply with the orders. It didn't matter if Horvath was better off staying at the hospital or not, Lucius wasn't following orders.


Posted Sep. 22, 2018 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
peggyt

Join Date: 08/10/17

Posts: 215

RE: Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

I thought that Lucius was ashamed that when Horvath was tortured by anbinden and the hideous result of it was really the doctor’s fault and it was his pride that led to it.


Posted Sep. 23, 2018 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
scgirl

Join Date: 06/05/18

Posts: 245

RE: Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

I too think that Lucius was ashamed of his part in "trying to play God" with Horvath. The success he had with the treatment he used, in part, lead to his conceit regarding how to treat Horvath and whether to keep him at the hospital. I wonder if things would have ended differently with Margarete if Horvath had been released when he should have been.


Posted Sep. 23, 2018 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kdowney25

Join Date: 01/25/16

Posts: 183

RE: Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

Lucas was definitely ashamed and felt guilty about what happened to Horvath. Margarete had commented to him whether he was keeping Horvath at the hospital for Horvath's sake or for Lucius' own sake and his desire to cure Horvath. That decision resulted in horrible consequences for Horvath and I don't think Lucius could forgive himself. He felt responsible.


Posted Sep. 23, 2018 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
christine

Join Date: 05/30/11

Posts: 41

RE: Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

Lucius had tremendous guilt on his selfishness that caused so much suffering for Horvath. He felt so ashamed of himself and had a terrible time facing it, let alone talk about it to anyone.


Posted Sep. 24, 2018 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
laurap

Join Date: 06/19/12

Posts: 407

RE: Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

He felt guilty and ashamed of his own conviction that he could save Horvath. In retrospect, he was sure he let his own ego get in the way of making the best decision for his patient (Margarete suggested as much) and he was too distressed by that failure to admit it to anyone else. (The end of the book suggests Horvath probably felt the same way.)


Posted Sep. 24, 2018 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
paulagb

Join Date: 08/16/17

Posts: 173

RE: Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

I completely agree witheveryone above. Although Lucius had no way of knowing that keeping Horvath for further treatment would result in such horrific events, but he knew that if he had listened to Margrete Horvath would not have suffered as he did. Lucius could not open his faults up to anyone. He did not want to hear the platitudes on be consoled by people who could never really understand all that happened.


Posted Sep. 26, 2018 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
AmberH

Join Date: 05/09/18

Posts: 85

RE: Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

All that guilt! Although I think Lucius was well-intended by keeping Horvath close, Horvath was harmed by staying with Lucius. I wonder if Horvath blamed Lucius for what happened?


Posted Sep. 26, 2018 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
cindyj

Join Date: 06/26/18

Posts: 32

RE: Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

I think Lucius felt guilty and also like a failure because he did not uphold the Hippocratic oath "first do no harm."


Posted Sep. 27, 2018 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dorothyh

Join Date: 01/23/15

Posts: 225

RE: Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

It was a failure and he did not want others to know


Posted Sep. 27, 2018 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lilliantpr

Join Date: 01/23/12

Posts: 42

RE: Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

The scene of Horvath's torture was an unforgettable tragedy for everyone in Lemnowice especially for Lucius. This was on him. In his mind and as he mentions, he had committed one of the great sins of medicine, choosing to work a miracle over the mundane duty not to harm. Not to mention that Margarete had questioned him this at the moment of this decision. He felt that he had failed this oath, failed a patient and therefore a failure as a doctor. Nobody likes to talk about a failure of this magnitude.


Posted Oct. 07, 2018 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
vivianh

Join Date: 11/14/11

Posts: 160

RE: Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

Guilt for putting his own desire to ‘fix’ Horvath and lack of understanding of the ramifications of defying the order to release Horvath. He failed the Hippocratic Oath: First, do no harm.


Posted Oct. 11, 2018 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
scgirl

Join Date: 06/05/18

Posts: 245

RE: Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

Who would understand? His parents certainly would not, Lucius's war experience was totally different than his father's and his mother would have no frame of reference for what he experienced. Quite possibly Feuermann would understand but the shame of sharing what happened would have prevented Lucius from talking about it. The only person who would understand would be Margarete and she wasn't to be found.


Posted Oct. 11, 2018 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
teacher reader

Join Date: 02/14/18

Posts: 64

RE: Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

Paulagb put it very well. He didn't want to be consoled by people with no understanding.


Reply

Please login to post a response.