ABSTRACT
Literary examples from the end of the era Even at the start of the 20th century, the Austrian habitus reflected the history of the centuries-old processes of state formation. We still find clear evidence of ‘manorial absolutism’ – despite today’s fashionable talk of ‘Viennese Modernity’. The same is true of ‘confessional absolutism’, in which the church functions as organ and instrument of state rule. And in a multiplicity of ways that hit home daily, one was reminded that scions of ancient warrior castes, along with their code of conduct, still set the social tone and impregnated attitudes with their mentality. How did this affect the Austrian habitus? What continued to shape the psychic life of the individual despite the social changes to the economy, (state) administration and family? Belletristic literature gives us graphic descriptions of how top-down relationships were actually experienced in those times.
