Part 2

                Part 2 of The Reader took on an unexpected and interesting spin from the first part of the story. We have now been exposed to Hanna’s past, and I think that her experiences in the concentration camps can provide some insight to her behavior and relationship with Michael. The most prominent aspect that this experience reveals, in my opinion, is her need to be in control. Throughout Part 1 of the novel, the author reveals Hanna’s character as one that thrives on being in constant control and dominating Michael. I think the fact that Michael is so much younger than her contributes to a deeper understanding of her being. Given that she is 21 years older than he is, she may have felt a sense of superiority over him. Her utilization of the term “kid” also provides a sense of his inferiority to her. Now that we are aware of her past as a concentration camp guard, the whole idea of dominance and control makes a lot more sense. While I still find her relationship with Michael to be uncomfortable and weird, I think I do have a better understanding about it. Just like she needed him to feel superior, Michael needed her to gain confidence and become less passive. With regard to her illiteracy, this news did not really come as a complete shock to me. Her strong interest in the books from Michael’s father’s study drew attention to that subject area, in addition to the fact that she constantly requested that Michael read to her. I did not expect the story to take such a turn, but I think it has provided us with a better sense of understanding the relationship between Michael and Hanna.