Part 1

As with most of the books we have read, the narration and different literary elements are used very effectively to create a certain sense very quickly. In this book, Schlink is very good at creating a sense of hopelessness and helplessness within the first part of the book through the plot and the language he used to describe the main character. That theme seems to hold a very central position in the book, not only in the relation between Michael and Hanna but as an analysis of a different situation in the world. The main event in question is the role that Hanna played as an SS officer at one of the concentration camps under the rule of Hitler. There are stark similarities between the relationship between Hannah and Michael and the helplessness that many of the prisoners felt inside the concentration camp. This is interesting as it brings up a possibility that this whole relationship might be an overarching metaphor for helplessness and perhaps a discussion of some of the human principals that went into some of the atrocities that go on in the world. What I find interesting is that the intense descriptions of the building in the first couple of chapters do not really pertain to the actual story that much and seem mostly as a foreshadowing of the importance of the building, and not so much to actually establish the plot of the book. The whole relationship has a sort of awkward resemblance to the fact that he seems to desire being put in a situation where he is helpless, as though it gives him some sort of direction and it seems as though he is seeking a situation in which he really does not have to care. This brings up interesting debates on why certain people put themselves in situations where they could have easily avoided the sense of helplessness they may feel, yet they often find themselves in bad situations. But that is just based off a cursory glance of the many themes and subtleties of the book, I am sure it will be much clearer when we analyze it.