Release date is 2018-05-14

E-text prepared by Juhani Kärkkäinen and Tapio Riikonen

"Kuoleman tarkoitus" by Paul Bourget is a novel written in the early 20th century. The narrative revolves around a medical doctor working in a wartime field hospital, where he reflects on both his personal experiences and the broader implications of life and death amidst the chaos of war. The central figure appears to be a surgeon, Professor Michel Ortègue, who is notable for his dedication to medicine and the intellectual reflections on heroism and duty presented through the doctor's perspective. At the start of the story, the protagonist, who is also a doctor, is stationed in a hospital that has been repurposed for wartime needs. He recounts his experiences over the past nine months, detailing the harrowing sight of wounded soldiers and the grave atmosphere surrounding the hospital. The doctor contemplates his presence in this place, feeling both necessary yet distanced from the actual battlefield, as he struggles with philosophical questions about duty, courage, and the very nature of heroism within the context of war. His musings reflect a deep engagement with themes of mortality, morality, and the human condition, setting a thought-provoking tone for the novel. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Original publication data not identified