The Silent Mill

"The Silent Mill" by Hermann Sudermann is a story set in the early 1900's that explores the lives of the Rockhammer family. Specifically focusing on brothers Martin and Johannes, the story takes place in a small, country town and deals with love, loss, and the difficulties of life. Readers find that the family's old mill represents both their inheritance and their bad luck. The story looks back and details the family's past, including old man Rockhammer's violent rages and the unfortunate circumstance that caused one of Martin's brothers to be unable to speak, which led to Martin's loss of innocence. Despite issues arising from Martin's marriage to Trude and Johannes' feelings for her, Martin and Johannes grow closer as they get older. The story begins by capturing the quiet, but meaningful moments in their lives, which build the foundation for the emotional struggles that result from increasingly complex relationships.