Part 1

                So far, I have been enjoying The Reader. Even though the book is fairly simple to read, the author does offer some complex ideas that allow the reader to truly think about what he is saying. One topic that I found rather interesting was the idea of the labyrinth. “Desires, memories, fears, passions form labyrinths in which we lose and find and then lose ourselves again. They are hours when anything is possible, good or bad. This passes as you get better. But if the illness has lasted long enough, the sickroom is impregnated with it and although you’re convalescing and the fever has gone, you are still trapped in the labyrinth” (18). I think this idea perfectly conveys the notion of being stuck. We are constantly stuck in a series of contradictions, and there is no way of escaping it.

The author also mentions “silencing my bad conscience” (19). I think this line in particular draws a close connection to Notes from the Underground. During those discussions, we spoke a little bit about the fact that we hide things not just from others, but from ourselves as well. Some thoughts that pop into our minds, if even for a brief moment, have the capacity to scare us and question ourselves, which in turn force us to shut off those thoughts. Michael’s feelings towards Hanna are his fear; he knows deep down that his feelings should not be present, yet there is nothing he can do about it. In an attempt to disguise these very feelings, he attempts to rationalize them, solely for the benefit of his own conscience.

I find Michael and Hanna’s relationship to be very odd. While it seems that she is not leaving a positive influence on him, there are certain circumstances where she is helpful to him. For instance, when learning that he is not taking studying very seriously, she reprimands him and instructs him to do well in school. Her authoritarian tone seems to be present throughout the story thus far. Hanna is always the one in control, while Michael always willingly obliges to her wishes.