This part depicts Ernest’s entry into adulthood and confrontation with society. He takes on clerical duties and social roles but faces hypocrisy and injustice firsthand, which shakes his faith. Under pressure from family and church, he suffers inner conflict and falls into moral and psychological crisis. His mistakes and failures isolate him but also kindle his desire for independence. Ernest begins to resist authority and institutions, seeking personal freedom. Yet his path is marked by suffering and disillusionment.
