Psychoanalytic Discussion of “The Reader”

Psychoanalytic Discussion of “The Reader” By Ben Wilson & Blossom Lepillier-Joyce

Oedipal Dynamic and Bildungsroman • Michael’s rapid sexual & mental development • As the story follows his ‘coming of age’ • We see Michael grow and develop mentally as his life is thrown from left to right, up and down. • Rapidly Developing Adolescent(Oppressed by hannah) • Bemused Undergraduate (Repressed) • Mentally weak & altered adult (repressed memories)

bildungsroman • It is interesting that the firstwork Michael chooses to read to Hanna is Homer's epic poem The Odyssey, whichdetails Odysseus's adventures whilst returning from war. Odysseus is, of course, in away that eludes the dysfunctional Michael, able to discover himself and find peace athome with his wife, Penelope. Michael, on the other hand, is left to mull over the pastand to ponder on the extent to which Hanna may be held responsible for his failure to sustain relationships.

Symbolism • Michael’s development Symbolic of the strain of the ‘New Generation’ (emotional, mental) • A new generation that thrown into the ‘Rapidly Developing’ world. (War) Having to grow up quickly to accommodate for the time • Throughout war were oppressed by Nazi’s like Michael is in the trial (Guilt eats at him) • Repressed memories of war in new generation as Michael represses his memory of Hannah

Symbolism • Hannah symbolizing the older generation participating in the war. • She starts off naïve as the German people were to the happenings • She was oppressed as those who participated were ‘held down’ and their actions controlled (forced to into an irreversible situation of uncontrollability & guilt) • She cannot repress her emotions for her actions and shows just how the decline of the older generation was

Repression Who - Michael What • Michael has repressed about his feelings towards Hanna, even years after she disappeared from his life. • By repressing his feelings he never fully got over Hanna and what they shared -his feelings for her will always be there. • Hence why he has never been able to sustain a relationship, his experience with Hanna left him emotionally/mentally scarred.

Repression How • His memories/feelings with Hanna have been repressed through out the novel, when he enters the trial and views Hanna as a defendant all of his memories and feelings come rushing back. • Him being there to witness her trial is just chance, him being there also triggers his repressed memories he has been hiding from himself for years. • Her name being called in the courtroom and him being there to witness it triggers what he has been hiding Why • His feelings have been repressed to show the reader that he has matured, and grown as a person, and that he has forgotten about his past relationship with Hanna. • Until he enters the trial and his repressed memories/feelings are triggered.

This mental strain questions why Michael didn’t speak up? • Given Circumstances he symbolically was ‘oppressed’ due to the because

Oppression Oppression • The author has made Hanna oppressed by Michael, as the reader only see's Hanna through Michaels eyes. • Hanna is also oppressing Michael, as she controls him and his life choices for the short summer they were together. • The author has made Michael oppress Hanna, this influences the reader into not sympathizing with Hanna, as she is oppressed and marginalized.

Social Class & Power • Michaels Ability to read = Greater Power over Hannah • Michael is educated Hanna is not • Hanna is seen as symbolic of older generation - the generation thrown into working for the Nazi's naïve • Hanna is seen as an authority, as she is older than Michael. Therefore he considers her as powerful and threatening. • We as the readers see Hanna through Michaels eyes, from his point of view. The reader sees Hanna as serious, emotionless, protective, preservative. • However her inability to read places him in a higher social position

This positioning illustrates the situation of the younger generation being educated on the happenings in the war • Learning from their predecessors • Having the upper hand to assure a war never happens again • Mentally and emotionally superior

Psychoanalytic Discussion of “The Reader”