Part 2 (Alexia Barrios)

Part 2 of The Reader takes an interesting turn from the events that occurred in Part 1 and we learn a lot about Hanna’s past. I for one was somewhat shocked at her role in the concentration camps and her involved in Hitler’s regime because though she was not the most kind hearted individual I never thought she would be involved in such atrocious events. The learning of her role in a concentration camp is quite relevant when analyzing her behavior. Hanna, from what we have seen throughout her relationship with Michael, is one who finds herself in need of being an authoritative figure as she constantly was the dominative figure in their sex life. Also she has this sort of dominating power over him but expresses it in a more motherly nature, though she is still stern with her expression of it, she commands him to do his work and stop cutting classes like a any mother would if she learned their child was doing what he was. This aspect of her personality can be directly linked to her time as a guard, as that experience must have instilled a sort of superiority complex in her as she most likely viewed and treated those around her as inferiors. Also her domineering personality trait could be a way that she compensates for her illiteracy. In the first part of the novel she never openly disclosed this information but we can take a hint from the fact that she asks Michael to read to her and that the note he wrote her was misplaced in their room. Due to this inability she has she possibly feels innately inferior to many of the people she is surrounded by, so she compensates for her lack of skills in reading through her outward expression for superiority.