Schlink efficaciously employs word picture through the supporter Michael Berg to exemplify the cardinal subjectiveness of different sorts of justness portrayed throughout history. As a reader we are presented with a German society where most persons were either involved or affected, both straight and indirectly by World War II. This is besides no exclusion with the life affecting Michael, with his male parent being expelled from his university talking station because of his bizarre doctrines which were against Hitler ‘s purposes. Michael is portrayed as a naif kid raised in a society plagued with the load of war. While at his most guiltless point in his life, a vulnerable Michael begins a insouciant relationship with Hanna, a former SS guard at the Auschwitz concentration cantonment. From this Schlink highlights Michael ‘s exposures and how Hanna uses her laterality and mature temptingness to command Michael ‘s naif nature. Her actions are finally the cause of Michael ‘s development from an guiltless kid into an emotionless adult male which acts as a polar point in the development of the text ‘s major subjects. This is because Schlink so presents Michael ‘s narrative throughout the text as undependable, which is symbolic of the subjectiveness of justness amongst societies. In the tribunal tests sing Hanna, different events are retold as through the narrative an undependable recount is given which reiterates the subjectiveness of all versions of history which lead to justness. This is reiterated through Michael ‘s comments on his changeless cunctation and how they support Schlink ‘s usage of Michael ‘s undependability to portray the subjectiveness of justness, ” But today I can acknowledge that events back so were portion of a life-long form in which thought and making have either come together or failed to come together-I think, I reach a decision, I turn the decision into a determination ”
From the finding of fact of the test, Schlink forces the reader to finally question justness through the tribunal system and one version of events warrants the harshest of all humane punishments. Although Hanna ‘s actions were inhumane, as a reader we are positioned through narrative to experience sympathetic and believe although her actions should n’t be condoned, as a reader we should oppugn who has the ultimate incrimination. This is done by sing who should be brought to justice more righteously, the caputs of evil governments, or their pawns bring downing enduring while non to the full being metaphorically illiterate to what is go oning.
Schlink efficaciously uses symbolism to uncover the ignorance of the German people post the Nazi Regime and how the bequest of guilt still remains evident. This is particularly the instance through the symbolism casted by Schlink when associating to Hanna ‘s illiteracy. Throughout the bulk of the text it becomes progressively evident that Hanna is illiterate. This is first foreshadowed by Schlink one time Michael leaves a note which Hanna can non read, so in an effort decode it, she assumes it is about him go forthing and as a consequence she punishes him with her “ leather supporter belt ” to exert her authorization, cutting his lip in the procedure. It is so discovered she had resigned from several occupations due to frights of being incapable and society going aware of her illiteracy. In kernel her illiteracy is symbolic of the moral illiteracy of the German society and how the bequest of guilt remains. Although Hanna is illiterate, this does non needfully intend she is an invalid. Her function in the Nazi government was one forced by societal economic force per unit areas and was unable to grok the true badness of her actions. The German society mirrors her actions through the ignorance expressed throughout society. The moral illiteracy through ignorance becomes evident during the tribunal proceedings where Hanna is under scrutiny from the justice, and in an effort to warrant her actions she beckons to the justice “ what would you hold done? ” The justice is so baffled and moves on towards the following topic as she repeats the same inquiry momently after. Schlink illustrates Hanna ‘s illiteracy to symbolically stand for a true appraisal of an nescient Germany society, plagued with moral illiteracy that are unable to grok the agony felt by the Judaic people. As a reader we are so positioned to contemplate the inquiries associating to justness and disapprobation being presented to us by Schlink. It becomes evident that Schlink conveys the audience to be positioned to oppugn how a society can judge those who have done incorrect, while their ignorance has done nil to forestall or handle any farther wrong.
Once once more Schlink uses symbolism to uncover how corporate guilt burdens an person. This is revealed through Hanna ‘s realization of her actions through the tribunal room and her clip in prison. Before her realization she led a life of illiteracy which so reflected her actions, nevertheless while in prison she was given hope by Michael for a new found life. This was done through the changeless sending of audio books recorded by Michael. Slowly Hanna began to understand literature and this is when she realised the full extent of her actions. Schlink portrays Hanna ‘s self-destruction as a agency of going free from the collective guilt which was placed onto her. Symbolically Schlink uses an old tea box to function as Hanna ‘s manner of seeking forgiveness to her lasting victim. Michael follows her concluding wants and finally travels trying to manus over the gift as a mark of Hanna ‘s forgiveness. The writer gracefully diminutions but is pleased to have a portion of the gift, a tea box which reminds her of one she one time possessed whilst in the cantonment. Schlink illustrates this minute as the sympathetic rapprochement scene where Hanna ‘s bequest is continued, with forgiveness sought.