'אצל Etsel' Summary

The protagonist of 'Etsel' is a young man living with a life-threatening heart condition. He grapples with the inability to fully experience life and love, torn between yearning for connection and the fear of vulnerability. He encounters several women, each representing a different facet of his internal conflict. There's the passionate love of a fiery woman, the gentle affection of a kind soul, and the intellectual connection with a woman of refined sensibilities. Despite these encounters, he finds himself unable to commit to any of them, haunted by the specter of his mortality. The story unfolds as a melancholic exploration of love, longing, and the bittersweet acceptance of his own limitations. Through Gnessin's distinctive prose, we witness the protagonist's inner turmoil, his existential anxieties, and the ultimately tragic nature of his existence.