The Reader

Memory is a powerful concept. Often when an individual undergoes a traumatic situation, the ramifications of these actions seep into an individualÐ'Ѓfs psyche unknowingly. In effect this passes through memory and becomes sub-consciously buried within a personÐ'Ѓfs behavioural patterns generally. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink explores the concept of a young mans subconscious desire for a woman whom he Ð'ЃgcanÐ'Ѓft remember to forgetÐ'Ѓh (1Memento) as she is so deeply inlaid within his soul.

Critically acclaimed as Ð'ЃgA formally beautiful, disturbing, and finally morally devastating novel. From the first pageÐ'Ѓc [it] ensnares both heart and mindÐ'Ѓh ( Los Angeles Times), the novel tells the story of a young boy, 15, Michael Berg, through his own interior narration. He finds himself emotionally and sexually attached to a woman of over twice his age, Hanna Schmitz. She then breaks his heart by deserting him. Michael is emotionally torn by this incident and consequently develops a subconscious obsession with her.

Years after the mysterious disappearance of Hanna, Michael marries a woman named Gertrude. Ð'ЃgGertrude was smart, efficient, and loyalÐ'Ѓh (3p 171) yet she never fulfilled Michael in the same way as Hanna had previously. Unknowingly he drove her away through his constant comparisons and dissatisfaction that Gertrude could not be the woman he wanted. Ð'ЃgI could never stop comparing the way it was with Gertrude and the way it had been with Hanna; again and again, Gertrude and I would hold each other, and I would feel that something was wrong, that she was wrong, that she moved wrong and felt wrong, smelled wrong and tasted wrong.Ð'Ѓh (p 171) In his relationship with Gertrude, Michael cannot remember to forget Hanna as, at the time, he doesnÐ'Ѓft realise but subconsciously he is comparing the two and sabotaging his relationship.

In the unconscious state, dreams are the purest form of truth into a personÐ'Ѓfs subconscious. In MichaelÐ'Ѓfs dreams he physically yearns for HannaÐ'Ѓfs presence. Ð'ЃgIt took a while before my body stopped yearning for hers; sometimes I myself was aware of my arms and legs groping for her in my sleep, and my brother reported more than once at table that I called out Ð'ЃeHannaÐ'Ѓf in the nightÐ'Ѓh (p 85). The helpless nature of Michaels actions show how much Hanna has affected his subconscious and although he is made aware of his actions, his physical dependence comes from the deep scaring within him.

On another occasion, after HannaÐ'Ѓfs death, it is documented that Michael once again subconsciously desires her presence. Michael dreams of Hanna while travelling through the countryside to bid HannaÐ'Ѓfs final wishes.

Ð'ЃgI dreamed of Hanna and myself in a house in the autumn-blazed hills that were lining our route. Hanna was older than when I had met her and younger than when I had met her again, older than me, more attractive than in earlier years, more relaxed in her movements with age, more at home in her own body. I saw her getting out of the car and picking up shopping bags, saw her going through the garden into the house, saw her set down