The Process of the Donkeys Shadow by Friedrich Dürrenmatt. Short summary

5 seconds

A dentist and a herdsman quarreled over the shadow of a donkey. As a result of the argument, many people quarreled, two temples burned down, and the donkey was blamed for the conflict.

1 minute

Struthion the dentist needs to travel to another city. He rents a donkey from the mahout Antrax. The weather is very hot. Strootion, exhausted by the heat, dismounts from the animal and decides to rest in its shade for a while.

Antrax demands an additional payment. The dentist does not agree, as he has paid the rent for the donkey and does not consider it appropriate to pay for its shade. A conflict arises between the men.

Each hires a lawyer, who demands a lot of money for his services. As a result of the court case, the dentist loses his clients, goes bankrupt, and his marriage falls apart. The donkey herder is forced to sell not only all of his property, but even his wife, in order to pay for the lawyer’s services.

Many people are drawn into the proceedings. A quarrel arises among the townspeople, and two temples are burned down. As a result, a donkey is blamed for the whole situation.