The gold coins they generate by vomiting when they have inner turmoil are caused by the process of being a word, which grinds against their base human existence. Over the course of the school year, by learning, they partake in a process that deconstructs them as a person and reassembles them again in this new form. Sometimes even she herself thought that she was exactly the same as last fall, when they had listened to “Gaudeamus” in the assembly hall.” It felt as if she had been taken apart - and then put back together again, but at first glance she seemed exactly the same. The goal of the institute is to change human beings that are completely unaware of their potential, to literalized words that can “reverberate” in the language of the universe - thereby self-actualizing their raw potential - potentially changing the fabric of reality, depending on what they actually are. They are adverbs, verbs, pronouns, nouns, etc. Others, like the people forced into going to the Institute, are more substantive. Some people are dashes and commas and brackets the grammar of the universe. So, every single thing, every person, is - without their knowing it - a piece of language that contextualizes everything. I’m not talking about everyday things, the so-called principles, I am talking about the inner configuration of your personality, and of your ability to overcome stereotypes.”įirst of all, the universe of Vita Nostra is defined entirely by language.

You have a very clear notion of what is acceptable and what is not.

Because your efforts are connected to - or, rather, limited by - what is internally permissible. Keep in mind, these are just the broad strokes as well, to keep it relatively brief. Because it is translated I would bet there are cultural elements I’m missing and an explainer of the Ukrainian would be the most definitive thing you could read. There are subjective elements that make that impossible. To the best of my understanding, this is what I think happened but I’m in no way claiming this is definitive.

“Our life is brief, / It will shortly end / Death comes quickly.”

Vita nostra book