What are the motifs in Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig?

A recurring idea throughout the novel is appearances, or how characters perceive the way others view them and their concerns of these views. Hofmiller himself realizes as he progresses through the novel that his unwillingness to admit his feelings for the Kekesfalva's is that he feels his colleges will believe he is simply doting on the family to gain their wealth. He is unable to face the idea that his friends will laugh at him in the novel, and even goes so far as to deny his engagement to Edith in an effort to save face. He allows friends to bad mouth Kekesfalva, Edith, and even the apothecary who spoke nothing but the truth. His own fears of being looked down on by family and friends lead, in part, to his eventual demise. He fears disappointing Herr Kekesfalva, thus allowing himself both to lie to Edith and to manipulate Condor into lying about a new treatment for Edith.