从耻感文化视角看《朗读者》中女主角汉娜的悲剧命运

OntheTragicFateoftheProtagonistHannainTheReaderfromthePerspectiveofShameCulture从耻感文化视角看《朗读者》中女主角汉娜的悲剧命运摘要《朗读者》是德国法学家兼作家本哈德·施林克的著名作品之一。第二次世界大战是全世界人民都无法磨灭的记忆。战争没有胜利者，小人物更是战争洪流里的受害者。小说讲述了男女主人公之间一段发生在二战后德国的非同寻常的爱情故事，将普通人的爱恨纠葛与历史、人性等多重主题结合到一起，展现了对历史罪责、现实矛盾以及人性脆弱、苦难的独到思考，是德国战后反思文学的经典作品。小说的女主人公汉娜是一例典型的矛盾主体，她对未成年的男主人公的感情、她对自己文盲身份的认知、她所做出的选择和由她体现出来的人性的弱点都是值得探讨的话题。本文主要以汉娜所处的时代的大背景为切入点，借助部分已有的研究，从耻感文化角度入手，对女主人公汉娜的悲剧命运做出进一步的详细分析，使读者能够对汉娜悲剧命运的成因有更深的认识，对德国的战后反思文学有进一步的、更客观的了解，同时也旨在教育人们应为自己的抉择负起责任。关键词：耻感文化；朗读者；汉娜；悲剧命运；二战；AbstractTheReaderisoneofthemostfamousnovelsofGermanwriterBernhard·Schlink.Thesecondworldwarisapainfulmemorythateverysingleindividualoftheworldcannotforget.Awarhasnowinnersothateverypersonofthatgenerationissubjected.TheReaderisastoryaboutloveandabouthistoryaswell.ThenoveltellstheunusuallovestorybetweenMichaelandHannaafterWWⅡ.Itconstitutesamixtureoflove,hatred,historyandhumanity.Itshowstheuniqueoptionofthehistoricalguilty,therealitycontradiction,thevulnerabilityandsufferingofhumannature.Wecanaskourselvesaquestionafterreadingit,thatis,howfarwouldyougotokeepsomethingasecret?TheprotagonistHannaisanobviousexampleofinwardconflict.ThefeelingsbetweenherandMichael,herawarenessofherilliteracy,theweaknessofhumanracereflectedinherandthechoicesshehadmadeareallworthexploringanddiscussing.ThisthesisaimstoexplorethisnovelbyanalyzingthetragicfateofHannafromtheperspectiveofshameculture.Weareabletoknowmuchmoreaboutintrospectionliteratureandtolearnthatweshouldtakeourresponsibilityforwhatwehavedone.Keywords:Shameculture;TheReader;Hanna;tragicfate;WWⅡContents1.Introduction………………………12.Backgroundinformation12.1Socialbackground……..…22.2Introspectionliterature…………22.3AbriefintroductiontoTheReader33.Shameculture…………43.1Culture43.2Shameculture54.ShamecultureandthetragicfateofHanna……………64.1ThefireinthechurchandHanna’sfirsttragedy64.1.1Hannaasavictim64.1.2Hannaasaninjurer74.2ThetrialandHanna’ssecondtragedy84.2.1Hannaasaconfessor84.2.2Hannaasaliar84.3Hanna’ssuicideandherthirdtragedy94.3.1Hanna’srepentance94.3.2Hanna’ssuicide95.Conclusion10References……………11Acknowledgements……………………12IntroductionTheReader,aGermannovel,isasuccessfulmasterpieceofintrospectionliterature,whichwaspopulararoundtheworldandwonnumerousliteraryawards.ItssuccesshasbenefitedfromBernhardSchlink'sprofoundthoughtsandextraordinarywritingtechniques.XiaoFuxing,afamousChinesewriter,gavehighpraisetothisnovelandcalleditanallegoryofthecontemporarygenerationofGermanyandhesaidthatintrospectionismoreimportantthanrecalling(XiaoFuxing,2015:24).AsGoethehassaid,“ThenotionofsecrecyiscentraltoWesternliterature,youmaysaythewholeideaofcharacterholdingspecificinformation,whichforvariousreasons,sometimesperverse,sometimesnoble,theyaredeterminednottodisclose”(Schlink,1997:59),secrecyhasbeenthemostvitalelementinWesterncountries.TheReaderisalovestorywhosebackgroundhasmoretodowiththesecondworldwar.Thisnovelpresentsseveralthemessuchaslove,guiltandwar.It’sbasicallya50-year-oldlawprofessorMichaelBerg’smemoiroflife.Thestorywastoldbythefirstpersonnarrator.In1958,Germanyasaconqueredcountryheldasceneofdevastation.Afifteen-year-oldboycalledMichaelBerggothepatitis,whichstartedinthefallandlasteduntilspring.Onceonhiswaybackhomehecan’thelpthrowup,atthatmoment,Hannashowedup.Asatotalstranger,Hannatookcareofhimandwalkedhimhome.That’sthebeginningoftheirMay-Decemberromance.Theyfellinlovewitheachother.Hannaappearedtobeabooklover.ShealwaysaskedMichaeltoreadthebooksthathelearnedatschoolforher.Suddenly,oneday,HannadisappearedfromMichael’slife.Eightyearslater,althoughMichaelhadbeentryingtogetoverHanna,therelationshipbetweenthemhasalwaysbeenhissweetestmemories.Hewasaninternatthelawschool.OncehetookpartinthehearingofaNaziwarcriminaltrialbeforehegraduated,hemetHannaagain.ButitwasunexpectedtoMichaelthatHannasatthereasacriminal.Shewasguiltyforsheusedtobeaguardofaconcentrationcamp.Allofasudden,MichaelcameupwiththereasonwhyHannawouldratherbearallconsequencesthanshowherhandwritingtothejudge.Shewasailliteracyandshesawitasherdefect.Thisnovelshowedseveralthemessuchaslove,guiltandwar.Shameisacomplexconceptfromthefieldofpsychology.Itishidingontheedgeofhumanmind.ShamecultureisonespecificperspectivetoobservethepsychologicalconnectionbetweenHannaandherchoice.Wouldpeopleletthisfeelingwinwhenittriestocontroltheirmindandtheirbehaviors?ThisessayaimstoexplorethisnovelmeticulouslybyanalyzingthetragicfateofHannafromtheperspectiveofshamecultureandthenwewouldbeabletoknowmuchmoreaboutintrospectionliteratureandlearnthatweshouldberesponsibleforwhatwehavedone.BackgroundinformationEverynovelishighlyrelevanttoitssocialbackground.Backgrounddecidesthedirectionsofthenovelandwillgivepeoplemoreinvisibleinformationtoletthemknowmuchaboutthesocialcondition.2.1SocialbackgroundAsisknowntoallofus,waristheconductofastateleader’sorderforthesakeofhiscountry’sowninterestswhichwouldcausemillionsofmurders.InSeptember1939,theEuropeanbattlefieldwitnessedthefirstappearanceofgunshotoftheentirewar.Avarietyofdatashowedthatthesecondworldwarwastheworstworldwarforithadcausedthebiggestloss.German,althoughastheinitiatorofevil,wasbadlyweakenedaswell.Basedonthecomplexsocialbackground,TheReader,wrotebyBernhardSchlink,wasmeanttobeacomplicatednovel.Itisabouthistory,individual,love,desire,moralandguilty.AlloftheelementswerepressedontheshoulderofMichaelBerg,a“hostageofhistory”isthemostproperphrasetodescribehim.Asathesismentioned,“Wedocumenttheassociationbetweenwar-relatedshocksinchildhoodandadultoutcomesforEuropeansbornduringthefirsthalfofthetwentiethcentury.Asforthelong-termconsequencesofmortalityshocksonthesurvivors,wefindlittleevidenceofincreasedadultmortalityforpeoplebornduringWWⅠandWWⅡ,butsomeevidenceforpeoplebornduringtheSpanishFlu,especially,inEnglandandWales,FranceandItaly”(Havari&Peracchi,2016:5).Individualcanberegardedasthehostageofhistoryandknowledge,hijackedbythepresentandthefuture,especiallythisperiodofhistoryisrelevanttoourparentsandlovers.Duringaninterview,Schlinksaid,“ThethemesofTheReaderaresomethingthatkeptgrabbingmyattentionandthoughts.Thosethemestendtobethethemesofmygeneration”(QianDingping,2009:27).TheReader’spublicationaimedathelpingpeoplediscoverwhatkindofscarsthehistoryhadleftforthecountryandhowguiltythewarmadepeopleofthenextgenerationfeel.Nowadays,thefactisthatthefeelingofguilthasbeenfadingawayastimegoesby.TheyoungergenerationthinksmoreaboutwhatdisastersandinjuriesthethirdempirehadbroughttotheJewsandtheirneighboringcountries.Besides,theyaretryingtofigureouthowtotreatthedescendantsofthevictimsinarespectfulanddecentmanner.2.2IntrospectionliteratureInthefaceofthefiercewar,humanlifeissofragileandsosmall.Deathisthedirectorindirectconsequenceofwarsothatlifeanddeathhavebecometwoeternalthemesofliteraryworks.Theword“introspection”firstappearedinthewritingsofJohnLocke,aBritishphilosopher.Heregardedthe“perceptionoftheinneractivitiesofthemind”asintrospection(LiuYanqing,2010:33),itreferstosomethingthatmakesyoufeelemotionallyuncomfortable.Germanintrospectionliteratureisavarietyofworksaimingatexposingandcriticizingthecrimesoffascismandopposingthewar(NanNan,2014:2).GermanwritersneverceasedtheirintrospectionaboutthehistoryofWorldWarII.Afterthewar,Germanwritersofthepreviouseraregardedittheirresponsibilitytoexposeandintrospectthefascistcrimeintheirliterarycreation.Afterthesecondworldwar,intellectualsshoulderedtheresponsibilityofreawakeningtheconscienceofGermantowardsthewar.Literatureandphilosophyaretwoprimaryfieldsofintrospection.HeinrichBöll,afamousGermanwriter,leftsomanyexcellentworkssuchasWoWarstDuAdam(1978)towhaleawayatwar.HistheoriesdidagreatjobatinspiringGermanpeopletoshouldertheconsequencesofthewarinsteadofrunningawayfromit.“Ontheonehand,TheReaderiscloselyrelatedtotheGermanintrospectionliterature”(NanNan,2014:2).Itisaquietanddeeplovestoryonthesurface.Fromanotherpointofview,itisalsoapieceofsharpmonologueontheGermanviewofguiltandcrimeaswell.ThenoveltakestheordinaryindividualslikeMikeandHannaasitsprotagonists,italsoinvolvesthethemesofWorldWarII,Jewishsufferingsandescapewiththepurposeofexposingthecrimeoffascismandcriticizingthecrueltyofthewar,ithasarousedpeople’sreflectiononhistoryandguilt.BernhardSchlinkproposedthattheinitialpurposeofhiswritingwastogivemorepeoplethechancetoshareandexaminethehistoryandhedidnotmeantoavoidortocoveruptheNazihistory.Hebelievesthateverygenerationshouldknowthatthehappylifetheyhavetodaydoesnotcomeoutofnowhere.ThisisthecontemporaryhistorythatallGermanscan'tavoid(QianDingping,2009:28).2.3AbriefintroductiontoTheReaderTheReader(DerVorleser)isanovelpublishedin1995wrotebyBernhardSchlink.Thestoryisa\o"Parable"parable,dealingwiththedifficultiesthatpost-warGermangenerationshavehadtocomprehendthe

\o"Holocaust"Holocaust.TheReaderexploreshowthepost-wargenerationsshouldapproachthegenerationthattookpartin,orwitnessed,theatrocities.ThesearetheissuesattheheartofHolocaustliteratureinthelate20thandearly21stcentury,asthevictimsandwitnessesdieandlivingmemoryfades.After15-year-oldMichael’sbecomingillonhiswayhome,Hannaasaconductresshelpedhimoutandseeshimsafelyhome.Hespendsthenextthreemonthsbattlinghepatitisandforthatheabsentshimselffromschool.HevisitsHannatothankherforherhelpandrealizesthatheisattractedtoher.Aftertheirrelationshipbegins,HannaissometimesphysicallyandverballyabusivetoMichael.Monthsintotherelationship,shesuddenlyleaveswithoutatrace.ThedistancebetweenthemhadbeengrowingasMichaelhadbeenspendingmoretimewithhisschoolfriends;hefeelsguiltyandbelievesitwassomethinghedidthatcausedherdeparture.Thememoryofhertaintsallhisotherrelationshipswithwomen.Eightyearslater,whileattendinglawschool,Michaelisoneofthespectatorsofthe\o"Crimeagainsthumanity"warcrimes

trial.Agroupofmiddle-agedwomenwhohadservedasSSguardsatasatelliteof

\o"Auschwitzconcentrationcamp"Auschwitz

inoccupiedPolandarebeingtriedforallowing300\o"RoleofwomeninJudaism"Jewishwomenundertheirostensibleprotectiontodieinafirelockedinachurchthathadbeenbombedduringtheevacuationofthecamp.MichaelisstunnedtoseethatHannasitsbesidethedefendants.Thisscenesendshimonarollercoasterofcomplexemotions.Hefeelsguiltybecausehelovedherforawhileandhestilldoes.Firstly,shedeniesallthecrimesthatshehadbeencharged.Theninpanicsheadmitsitinordernottohavetoprovideasampleofherhandwriting.Michael,horrified,realizesthenthatHannahasasecretthatsherefusestorevealatanycost—thatsheisilliterate.ThisexplainsmanyofHanna'sactions:herrefusalofthepromotionthatwouldhaveremovedherfromtheobligationofsupervisingthesewomen.Duringthetrial,ittranspiresthatshetookintheweak,sicklywomenandhadthemreadtoherbeforetheyweresenttothegaschambers.Michaelisuncertainifshewantedtomaketheirlastdaysbearableorifshesentthemawaysotheywouldnotrevealhersecret.Sheisfoundguiltyandsentencedtolifeimprisonmentwhiletheotherwomenreceiveonlyminorsentences.Aftermuchdeliberation,heoptsnottorevealhersecret,whichcouldhavesavedherfromherlifesentence,astheirrelationshipwasaforbiddenone.Yearshadpassed.Michaelisdivorcedandhasadaughterfromhisshortmarriage.HeistryingtocometotermswithhisfeelingsforHanna,andbeginstape-readingandsendingthemtoherwithoutanycorrespondencewhilesheisinprison.Hannabeginstoteachherselftoread,andthenwriteinachildlikeway,byborrowingthebooksfromtheprisonlibraryandfollowingthetapesalongwiththetext.ShewritestoMichael,buthecannotbringhimselftoreply.After18years,Hannaisintheprocessofbeingreleased,soheagrees(afterhesitation)tofindheraplacetostayandemployment,visitingherinprison.Onthedayofherreleasein1983,shecommitssuicideandMichaelisheartbroken.MichaellearnsfromthewardenthatshehadbeenreadingbooksbymanyprominentHolocaustsurvivors,suchas\o"ElieWiesel"ElieWiesel,\o"PrimoLevi"PrimoLevi,\o"TadeuszBorowski"TadeuszBorowski,andhistoryofthe\o"Naziconcentrationcamps"camps.Hannalefthimanassignment:giveallhermoneytothesurvivorofthechurchfire.WhilehestayedintheU.S.,MichaeltravelstoNewYorktovisittheJewishwomanwhowasawitnessatthetrial,andwhowrotethebookaboutthewinterdeathmarchfromAuschwitz.ShecanseehisterribleconflictofemotionsandhefinallytellsofhisyouthfulrelationshipwithHanna.Theunspokendamageshelefttothepeoplearoundherhangsintheair.Herevealshisshort,coldmarriage,andhisdistantrelationshipwithhisdaughter.Thewomanunderstands,butnonethelessrefusestotakethesavingsHannahadaskedMichaeltoconveytoher,saying,“Ican’ttakeitforgranted”(Schlink,1997:208).MichaeldonatedthosemoneyinHanna’sname.ReturningtoGermany,andwithaletterofthanksforthedonationmadeinHanna’sname,MichaelvisitsHanna’sgraveforthefirstandonlytime.ShameCultureShamecultureandguiltculturearetwooppositeconcepts.Sinculturerepresentsthewesterncountriesforitsreligioustheoriesoforiginalsinwhileshameculturerepresentstheeasternforitssenseofshameismoreobvious.3.1Culture“Cultureisconsideredacentralconceptin\o"Anthropology"anthropology,encompassingtherangeofphenomenathataretransmittedthroughsocial\o"Learning"learninginhuman\o"Society"societies”(Macionis,J&Geber,L.2011:17).Someaspectsofhumanbehavior,socialpracticessuchasculture,expressiveformssuchas\o"Art"art,\o"Music"music,\o"Dance"dance,\o"Ritual"ritual,\o"Religion"religion,and\o"Technology"technologiessuchas\o"Tool"toolusage,\o"Cooking"cooking,\o"Shelter(building)"shelterand\o"Clothing"clothingaresaidtobe\o"Culturaluniversals"culturaluniversals,foundinallhumansocieties.Insimpleterms,cultureisalearnedsetofsharedinterpretationsaboutbeliefs,valuesandnorms,whichinfluencethebehaviorofarelativelylargegroupofpeople.3.2ShamecultureAccordingtoabookcalledTheChrysanthemumandtheSwordbyRuthBenedict,shamecultureandguiltculturearetwooppositeconcepts(Benedict,1989:12).Ruthdividedtheworldcultureintotwoparts:oneisshameculture,theotherisguiltculture.ItisanefficientwaytoanalyzedifferenthistoricalconceptionsbetweentheEastandtheWestintheaspectsoftwodifferentculturalstatesofsensesofguiltandshame.GuiltculturerepresentstheWestforitstheoryoforiginalsinwhileshameculturerepresentstheEastforitssenseofshameismoreobvious.Beforetalkingaboutshameculture,weshouldknowsomethingaboutthesenseofshame.Shameisapainful,socialemotionthatcanbeseenasresultingfromcomparisonofthe

\o"Self"self’sactionwiththe

\o"Egoideal"self’sstandardsbutwhichmayequallystemfromacomparisonoftheself’sstateofbeingwiththeidealsocialcontext’sstandard.Therootsofthewordshame

arethoughttoderivefromanolderwordmeaningtocover;assuch,coveringoneself,literallyorfiguratively,isanaturalexpressionofshame.Nineteenth-centuryscientistCharlesDarwindescribedshameaffectasconsistingof\o"Blushing"blushing,confusionofmind,downwardcasteyes,slackposture,andloweredhead,andhenotedobservationsofshameaffectinhumanpopulationsworldwide.AsDavidBrookswroteinoneofhispapers,“Crouchnotesthatthisshamecultureisdifferentfromthetraditionalshamecultures,theonesinAsia,forexample.Intraditionalshamecultures,theoppositeofshamewashonororface——beingknownasadignifiedandupstandingcitizen.Inthenewshameculture,theoppositeofshameiscelebrity——tobeattraction-grabbingandaggressivelyuniqueonsomemediaplatform.Onthepositiveside,thisnewshameculturemightrebindthesocialandcommunalfabric.Itmightreverse,abit,theindividualistic,atomizingthrustofthepast50years”(Brooks,2016:3),astateofshameisassignedinternallyfrombeingavictimofenvironmentwherethesenseofselfisstigmatizedlikebeingdenigratedbycaregivers.In\o"Culturalanthropology"culturalanthropology,a

shamesociety,alsocalledshamecultureorhonour-shameculture,isasocietyinwhichtheprimarydeviceforgaining\o"Socialcontrol"controloverchildrenandmaintaining\o"Socialorder"socialorder

isthe\o"Inculcation"inculcationof\o"Shame"shameandthecomplementarythreatof\o"Socialrejection"ostracism.Ashamesocietyiscontrastedwitha\o"Guiltsociety"guiltsociety,inwhichcontrolismaintainedbycreatingandcontinuallyreinforcingthefeelingof\o"Guilt(emotion)"guiltforcertaincondemnedbehaviors,inwhichcontroliskeptbythe\o"Fear"fearofretribution.ShamecultureandthetragicfateofHannaAsfortheperspectiveIchose,itisaspecialorientationtoanalyzeHanna’scharactersandherbehaviors.Shameitselfisapsychologicalconcept.ShamecultureisonespecificangletoobserveHanna’sactions.4.1ThefireinthechurchandHanna’sfirsttragedyWhenitcomestothefirsttragedyofHanna’sfate,wehavetorecognizeherworkingexperience.Hannagaveuptheopportunityforpromotiontwicebecauseofherilliteracy.WhensheworkedatSiemens,shetriedtokeepherilliteracyasecretsosheleft.Whensheworkedasaconductress,shealsoescapedfromthebrightfutureshewasgoingtoget.Ifallgoesbacktosquareone,ifHanna’snotafraidandashamedofbeinganilliteracy,therewoulddefinitelybeadifferentstory,inwhichcaseHannawouldneverhavetogotothejail.4.1.1HannaasavictimThefirsttragedyofHanna’sfatebeganwiththefactthatshewasilliterate.BydividingHanna’sworkinglifeintotwostages,ingeneral,Hannaherselfwasilliterate,and,shewasconstantlychangingherjobinordertocoverupthefact.ShechosetobetheguardoftheNaziconcentrationcamponlyforthereasontheguarddidnotneedtoreadorwrite.Unlikethecruelandcold-bloodedNazis,HannahadnointentionofbeingaNaziaccomplice.Evenifshedidnotbecometheguardoftheconcentrationcamp,theJewscouldnotescapeahardescape.Therefore,Hannaisalsoapoorvictim,involvedinthehistoryofthelongriver,unconsciouslybecomeahistoricalsinner.HannaworkedatSiemenswhensheenteredherearlytwenties.Heroutstandingperformanceatworkwonherapromotion.Butwhenshefoundthepromotionmightleadtoherilliteracy,shebackedoutandthengottheoffertobeaguardatAuschwitz.Thereasonisverysimple,thatis,beingaguarddoesnotneedtoreadortodoalotofpaperwork.Shecanearnmoneyanddonothavetobefearedfortheexposingofherilliteracy.Asanindividual,dignityandvaluecomefromtheroleorrelationshipoftheselfinthesociety.BeforeHanna’squittingfromSiemens,thepromotionshegotprovedthatshewasgoodatherwork,thatisarecognitionsheearned.Ifthisaffirmationbecomesapartofthereasonableacceptanceofherindividualpersonality,shecanalsoformherpositiveselftowinothers’approvalandtosensethevalueoftheexistenceandfulfilltheinfinitepotentialoflife.However,duetotheinwardshame,sheleftSiemens.Shenotonlydispelledthechancetoprovetheworldherpositiveside,butalsocutofftherelevancebetweenherandherfamiliarenvironment.Shelockedherselfupinthecageofself-enclosing.Itisafrustratingself-denialthatmadeherlosethechancetopresentherselftotheoutsideworld.Shewantedtobeisolated.Solitudebecameheronlyweapontomaintainherdignity.4.1.2HannaasaninjurerWhenwelookatHannaintheperspectiveoftheinjurerofthewar,thereisaconceptthatweshouldbringup.In1963,afamousJewishpoliticalthinkernamedHannahArendtputforwardaconceptofthebanalityofevil.OttoAdolfEichmannwasaGermanNaziSSlieutenantcolonelandoneofthemajororganizersof\o"TheHolocaust"theHolocaust.HewastaskedbySSlieutenantgeneral\o"ReinhardHeydrich"ReinhardHeydrichwithfacilitatingandmanagingthelogisticsinvolvedinthemassdeportationofJewstoghettosandexterminationcampsinNazi-occupied\o"EasternEurope"EasternEuropeduring\o"WorldWarII"WorldWarII.In1960,hewascapturedinArgentinabythe\o"Mossad"Mossad,Israel’sintelligenceservice.Hewasfoundguiltyof\o"Warcrimes"warcrimesinawidelypublictrialinIsrael,andwashangedin1962.Arendtexaminedthequestionofwhetherevilisradicalorsimplyafunctionofthoughtlessness,atendencyofordinarypeopletoobeyordersandconformtomassopinionwithoutacriticalevaluationoftheconsequencesoftheiractions.ShewassharplycriticalofthewaythetrialwasconductedinIsrael.ShealsowascriticalofthewaythatsomeJewishleaders,notablyM.C.Rumkowski,actedduringtheHolocaust.ThiscausedconsiderablecontroversyandevenanimositytowardArendtintheJewishcommunity.Arendtendedthebookbywriting:JustasyouEichmannsupportedandcarriedoutapolicyofnotwantingtosharetheearthwiththeJewishpeopleandthepeopleofanumberofothernations—asthoughyouandyoursuperiorshadanyrighttodeterminewhoshouldandwhoshouldnotinhabittheworld—wefindthatnoone,thatis,nomemberofthehumanrace,canbeexpectedtowanttosharetheearthwithyou.Thisisthereason,andtheonlyreason,youmusthang.Inaway,HannafacedthesamepredicamentasEichmandid.Manyofthechaptersinthebookreflectthe“banalityofevil”andtheindifferencetohumannatureofHanna:“Someofusweredead,andtheothershadleft.Theysaidtheyweretakingthewoundedtothefieldhospitalandcouldcomeback,buttheyknowtheyweren’tcomingback,andsodidwe”(Schlink,1997:126).Whenthejudgeaskedherwhatdidshedo,shesaidthat“Wedidn’tknowwhattodo.Itallhappenedsofast,withthepriest’shouseburningandthechurchspire,andthemenandthecartwerethereoneminuteandgonethenextIfwehadopenedthedoorsandtheyhadallcomerushingout”(Schlink,1997:127).Hannahasherownunderstandingofherdutyasaguard.Inthefaceofthejudge’senquiry,Hannaaskedthejudge,“whatwouldyouhavedone”(Schlink,1997:128)?TherhetoricalquestionrevealedHanna’shelplessnessandthehelplessnessofthejudge.ItisunquestionabletoperformagoodjobofherowninHanna’smind.What’swrongwithit?Herignoranceandsuperficialitymadehernotabletodistinguishbetweenrightandwrong,andshedidnotthinkthatshewassorryforthedeadJews.IntheGermanWorldWarII,thousandsofpeoplelikeHannaservedtheNazisunconsciously.Itcanbestatedthatundersuchcircumstancesduringthewar,anyordinarypersonmightchoosetoclosethedoorofthechurchandmakethesamemistakeasHannadid.Hanna’sfirsttragedycomesfromtheincomprehensionofthewarandhumanity.4.2ThetrialandHanna’ssecondtragedyThesecondstageofthestorybeganwiththeunexpectedreunionbetweenMichaelandHannainthecourt.Atthattime,HannaandMikehadbeenapartfromeachotherforeightyears,andMichaelbecamealawschoolstudent.4.2.1HannaasaconfessorHannawasasmallscrewonthemachineofcampmassacre.Sheworkedasascrewtokeepthemachinerunning.AsilliteratepersonslikeHanna,thosewomenbecomeparticipantsinthewarwithoutknowingtheseverityofthepossibleconsequences.ItcanbesaidthatHannalostherabilityofjudging,italsoreflectstheindividualsarelikesinglewater-dropletsintheoceanofhistory.Thevictimsweredead,butthousandsofindependentindividualslikeHannaarestillalive.Theyneedtospendtheirlifetimereflectingontheirunconsciousfault.Hannawasguiltybutitdidnotmeanthattheadjudicatorcansimplypunishherwiththeabstractchargesandthesimpleuseofthelaw.Ifthetrialisnotbasedonthetrueunderstandingofalltheparticularitiesofthedefendant,butbasedonthebalancebetweenvariouscalculations,thenthere’snojusticeinsuchatrial.Infact,itisnotatabooforHannatoadmittothejudgehersins.Sheisjustasmallunimpressivebeinginthewaveofthewar.4.2.2HannaasaliarFromHanna’spointofview,beingaconcentrationcampguardisjustacommonjob.Itdoesn’tneedtoreadorwrite.Shecanconcealhershortcomingofilliteracy.KillingtheseJewswasnotherintention.WhenshewasaskedtochoosefemaleprisonersandsentthemtoAuschwitzConcentrationCamp,shedidnotevendoubtorchallengethereasonablenessoftheorder.Duringthetrial,otherwisethantheotherprisoners,Hannahadn’ttriedtoescapefromwhatshehaddone.Sheisevenwillingtobecomeascapegoatbecauseshewouldrathergotojailthanletanyoneknowabouthersecret.InTheReader,Schlinkusedwordslike“isolated”and“helpless”todescribeHanna’ssituation.