The Reader and Germany:A Love Story

Rahul GuptaBlythe Pennock

Andra MarinescuNirupama Suneel

Shruthi Sreeprakash

In The Reader, Schlink uses Hanna and

Michael’s relationship as an allegory to Germany and lingering feelings

post-Holocaust

Denazification"the efforts made by the Allies to remove active

members of the former National Socialist Party from official public office and influential positions in Germany after World War II."

Yalta Conference:Big 3: desire to wipe out the Nazi party’s

influences from German public and cultural life.Potsdam Conference:Remove members of the Nazi power from

“public or semi-public office”

The Economic MiracleGerman economy destroyed

Germany lay in ruins Hitler’s scorched-earth policy

Hitler imposed price controls

Decided on currency reform

The net result was a 93%

contraction in the money supply

German economy completely turned around

and became one of the best in the world

The Student MovementMid 1960s – Early 1970sChange in student body dynamics

Subordinationunderstanding between prof and student

Start implementing changes within universities Course flexibility

Broader political changeConstitution“Defense of basic rights”

Vietnam War

Generation GapStudent Revolution

Students identified for parents’ mistakesTangible way to deal with guilt

“…the children of the war had wanted to spare their parents’ feelings… they were aware that the older generation’s wounds were too fresh… and never asked what happened…The parents did not want to inflict their psychological baggage on their children…As a group, the student generation of 1968 had asked questions in an aggressive and accusatory tone, but that had caused their parents to become more reluctant to talk.”

Shame“But that some few would be convicted and

punished while we of the second generation were silenced by revulsion, shame, and guilt- was that all there was to it now?” (104)

“Hanna as illness. I was ashamed. But I really couldn’t start talking about Hanna at this point.” (76)How does Michael’s shame towards Hanna

compare with the post war generation’s shame towards the prior generation?

Literacy in GermanyHanna’s shame of her illiteracy leads her to

“accept exposure as a criminal for fear of being exposed as illiterate” (133).

Germany had a high literacy rateMany Nazis were well educatedMoral illiteracy

“I…..I mean…..so what would you have done?” (111).

Burden“But no matter what I pretended to myself, I

knew that I was betraying Hanna when I acted as if I was letting my friends on everything in my life but said nothing about Hanna.” (75)To what extent is Hanna a burden on Michael?

Transformation- HannaRelationship Hanna

CleanlinessPurification

MichaelHolocaust

Prison Hanna

Surrenders justifications Facts have occurredInevitable– she was

involved

Transformation- MichaelYoung Michael

CharacterGentleKindInnocent

Older Michael

CharacterStill in painArroganceFragile

Guilt“And if I was not guilty because one cannot

be guilty of betraying a criminal, then I was guilty of having loved a criminal” (134)Is guilt an appropriate response to finding out

that the person you love is a criminal?

Dominance/Obedience “You think it looks like you upset me?

You don’t have the power to upset me” (48).

“I thought I was leaving for good. But a half an hour later…I said the whole thing was my fault” (48).

Relationship between Hanna and Michael vs. an SS guard and a Holocaust victim

Moral Ambiguity“Hanna wanted to do the right thing. When she

thought she was being done an injustice, she contradicted it, and when something was rightly claimed or alleged, she acknowledged it” (109).

What does this tell us about Hanna?Give us your verdict– guilty or not?

SanctuariesThe burning of the church:

“The defendants could have unlocked them. They did not, and the women locked in the church and burned to death” (107).

Massacre at Oradour-sur-GlaneWomen and children were taken to the town’s

churchA bomb was ignited and 642 people were

murdered One of the most notorious Nazi crimes

Sanctuaries“Imagine a trial and a defendant who will be

convicted if he doesn’t admit to being left-handed – do you tell the judge what’s going on? Imagine he’s gay, and could not have committed the crime because he’s gay, but is ashamed of being gay. It isn’t a question of whether the defendant should be ashamed of being left-handed or gay – just imagine that he is” (138)

Do you think outsiders have the right to reveal one’s inner secrets?

Denial and Silence“Was that why she sent her chosen wards to Auschwitz? To

silence them in case they had noticed something?” (132)

“The other defendants denied ever having had anything to do with [the selections]…Hanna admitted so readily that she had participated” (110).

“No, Hanna had not decided in favor of crime. She had decided against a promotion at Siemens, and fell into a job as a guard…she had chosen [weak girls] to read to her because she wanted to make their last month bearable” (133).

Denial serves as active defense, while silence serves as passive defense