Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Max Gottlieb

Martin practically worships Max Gottlieb's devotion to scientific truth. But Gottlieb's devotion also makes him completely uncompromising. Martin has a lot of trouble meeting his standards, and there is more than one occasion when he walks away from Gottlieb because the old man is too hard on him.

Martin comes to appreciate Gottlieb's "tough-love" brand of mentorship. With Gottlieb, though, the choice is always clear: you can take the easy path and live a happy life, or you can take the difficult path and live a fulfilling one. For Gottlieb (and ultimately for Martin) it is always more responsible to take the difficult path.