Kaspar (Meaning; Keeper of the Treasure)


Hello Everyone!

Today I am going to write about the enigma that was Kaspar Hauser (Meaning; House of the Keeper of the Treasure), and my thoughts about him and his meaning. I only recently found out the sad story of Kaspar, and it inspired me to write about the unfortunate life of this young man. 

The story starts on the 26th of May, 1828 in Nuremburg Germany. A young teenager stumbled onto the streets of the town, a confused look on his young face. After he got into town, a local shoemaker, Weichmann (Meaning; Man of War) noticed him, and the boy held out a letter, addressed to the local Captain, Von Wessenig. It told a part of Kaspar's story, that he had been placed in the care of the letters writer on the 7th of October 1812, and that the boy had been kept inside the caretaker's house all his life. It ended with a dire challenge; Train him, or if he could not, hang him. A second letter was in the envelope, apparently from Hauser's mother. His father was dead, though he had been a part of Captain von Wessenig's cavalry. Kaspar was held in the local jail, not knowing how to say anything except "Horse," and "Don't know." He was 16 years old. He later said in his youth he was locked away in a cell only 3' x 6' that he couldn't even stand up in. He had only seen a fellow human right before his release, a shadowy man who taught him to speak his limited vocabulary, and walk.

Kaspar eventually lived with three tutors, and at each place he left after a sudden accident (a wound to his forehead, supposedly inflicted by a cloaked attacker), and an argument (Kaspar skipped lessons all the time, and was mean to those around him), as well as accusations (Kaspar was lying, lazy and rude). His fame, which was world-wide by then, went to his head, and he became impossible. Many people thought he was of royal blood, hidden away for some unknown reason.

It all ended on Dec 14th, 1833, when Kaspar staggered into his latest home, a deep stab wound to his chest. He claimed a black coated man, the same shadowy one who had kept him inside a cell for his entire childhood, had attacked him in the Ansbach Court Gardens. A note and a purse were found, and the note seemed to back Kaspar up. Kaspar's life ended Dec 17th, 1833, of the stab wound.

Now, this story is the perfect base for a dramatic film, a captivating story. But it's probably only that. Kaspar Hauser existed, yes, but there has never been any evidence found to back his story up. The two letters that explained his origin seem to be written by the same person, in a single session. The handwriting was exactly like Hauser's. The Murder's Note, found in the Court Gardens? Some habits, like the way it was folded and a couple of grammar issues, are traceable to Hauser. Most people think that he stabbed himself to revive interest in his story, but the dagger went in too far. There is an encryption on his tomb that reads; "Here lies Kaspar Hauser, riddle of his time. His birth was unknown, his death mysterious." How true! Kaspar Hauser seems to be a very confused youth. He may have had Paranoid Personality disorder, among other afflictions. We will probably never know if he was sick, but his actions show that he probably was.

It's an interesting story for sure, and it got my attention. When I looked up his name, it got even more interesting. His name, Kaspar Hauser, when the meanings are combined with each other, means House of the Keeper of the Treasure. It's basically his life story (however fabricated), trapped in a house with a keeper. He was the treasure.

It reminds me how much our names shape our lives. We are our names, and somehow they label us for who we are. Something that is taken for granted, said tons of time each day, and yet seems of little significance, and it's our name. For as little as we study our name, we are shaped by it everyday. I know a lot of names with less than flattering meanings, but even those shape us. I don't believe any name is truly horrible. How do names shape our lives? Why do we become what our name calls us? Who knows. I would say mother's intuition plays a part, and fate somehow mixes herself in.

Thinking of this brings to mind some other thoughts. I know that there are some bad names out there, and so I would like to say this; if you're going to have a baby, give him or her a name that will nurture them. I have faith that you won't go as far as some names I've seen (Delete is the worst!), but double check your work. I know my name has shaped me into who I am. I believe that I can be the Greatest in a Multitude. And so I hope your child will believe they can be great too. I hope they will know they are beautiful, wonderful people who can, if they set their minds to it, be a better part of this world. They can be, if only we tell them.

I don't know how Kaspar Hauser was brought up. But, however demented he was, he took a firm grip of his life, and it lifted him into the spotlight. No, it wasn't good for him in the end.  But in my eyes, he took ahold of his life, and changed it forever. That's a hard thing to do in the world today.

So, in conclusion, what is your name? How has it shaped you? What is the meaning of your name, the meaning of you? I would like to hear about it, and learn a little bit more about you and your name. Your name marks you. You take hold of that, and let it take you places you hope to be. Be great, reader!

Be your meaning.

Maximilian Monson

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