Part 3 Reaction

      As I mentioned in my previous post for Part 2 of the novel, I believe that the author’s approach is one that serves a number of purposes. Firstly, The Reader offers a clear, historical recount of some of the events of the Holocaust. Meanwhile, Schlink also manages to avoid an emphasis on only history by supplying his audience with a love story between a woman in jail and a man who believed he fell in love with her when he was only a teenager. I think that the multifaceted nature of the literary work is key in maintaining the audience’s attention because many readers (including myself) cannot read an entire novel about just history. In regards to the specifics in Part 3, I believe that Hanna’s suicide at the moment of her release is one symbolic of her guilt. After being convicted along with a number of others for causing the deaths of hundreds of Jewish women, the character realizes that she can still try to make up for what happened in her past. In addition, her recently learned ability to read while in prison allows her to learn the truth about the tragedies that resulted from the Holocaust and the fact that the constant murders did not serve a purpose. As we move along, we find that Michael has almost gotten over Hanna in the sense that he is not as obsessive as he used to be in the beginning of the novel. Rather than responding to Hanna’s first letters when she learns how to write, Michael just acts confused and does not really know how to handle the situation. When he finally finds that Hanna has been released, his emotions cannot really be described as full of excitement. Instead, his actions are more indicative of fear of what is to come and how he will grant Hanna’s request to give the money to the lone survivor. Overall, the novel was undoubtedly a great read and I am happy that we were able to read it this year. I also feel as if it will be of great help to have read this book for the AP exam.