Austerlitz’s mission to uncover his parents’ lost past brings him no relief; as he says, finding the source of his misery does nothing to quell it. What does Austerlitz need in order to heal, and how does the novel suggest this?

Railways, including metros and stations, are a prominent motif. What is their significance to Austerlitz?

Austerlitz says that in every monumental building, there is the seed of its own destruction. Explore three textual examples where his claim is either validated or discredited, literally or figuratively. How does each instance play into the novel’s themes?