Knaup, Wim
Summary
Wim Knaup is a young boy who suffers frequent bullying from his neighbors in Ruhenheim, largely due to the shame of his father’s reputation as a useless drunkard. He works as a pageboy at Hotel Versteck, where he runs errands for Mr. Klaus Poppe. Wim typically hands over his entire salary to support himself and his father, though the money is mostly consumed by his father’s drinking habit. This financial instability makes him a target for local children who steal his wages, and insults directed at his father provoke his anger, even when they are justified. Following one such incident, a mysterious man approaches him on the road and asks if he hates his tormentors enough to kill them.
