Steppenwolf plans to play chess, but he is distracted by the gallery labeled “MARVELOUS TAMING OF THE STEPPENWOLF.” He recognizes the animal tamer as himself, mean and absurd. The man commands the wolf to perform menial tricks such as kneeling, playing dead, carrying food in his mouth, and retrieving the whip. The wolf is forced to jump over a rabbit and a lamb, and then embrace them while eating chocolate. Steppenwolf is horrified to witness such annihilation of the wolf’s nature.
The wolf and man switch roles. The wolf commands the man to drop to his knees and tear off his clothes. The man walks on two feet and all fours, plays dead, allows the wolf to ride his back, and retrieves the whip just as the wolf did previously. He frightens a young girl who shows him affection. Later, he rips the rabbit and lamb apart and devours them. Steppenwolf is shocked and disgusted and runs for the door. He leaves the gallery with “the taste of blood and chocolate in [his] mouth.” He remembers pictures from the war and feels self-aversion.
