EN
In his novel “Innocens” published in 1866 Ferdinand von Saar touches upon the topic of human erotic nature, which from then on would be the constitutive element of his literary output. In contrast to his later works, however, in which one can notice the author’s tendency to present human beings as creatures dependent on their urges, instincts and emotions, the figures in Saar’s early novels are characterized by a clear tendency to suppress their sexual sphere. The paper focuses on three earliest short stories by Saar: “Innocens”, “Marianne” and “Die Geigerin” [The violinist] and presents the moment of sexual awakening of the protagonists and the causes, for which they renounce the materialization of their erotic-sensual longings and passions.