An Existential Tale

Rating: Null/10 (3 May 2011)

The Reader is a classic existential story of how people are unable to accept the morality and consequences of their decisions as they seek the truth about themselves. Hannah has moved on in her life from being a Nazi prisoner guard and has drifted into normal post-war Germany life, leaving behind a past without confronting the inhumanity of her actions. Her search for the truth about her actions doesn't begin until her trial for war crimes leads to her conviction in the deaths by fire of prisoners she was guarding. At trial, she defends her actions as just carrying out her guard duties as directed by the SS. Were she to let the prisoners out of the burning building, in her eyes, she would be guilty of dereliction of duty. As the trial proceeds, she gradually comes to realize the scope of her crimes and accepts a longer sentence than her co-defendants; she acknowledges writing a summary report of the incident for her SS superiors, while in fact, she is illiterate. She chooses a long prison term because she finally realizes the scope of her crimes. She is overwhelmed with guilt and believes that she doesn't belong among her fellow Germans.
Her young lover, Michael, is on a parallel course, unable to deal with his past, as Hannah's lover. He too is prevented from reaching the truth due to guilt and fear of adverse social reactions by his peers.. As a law student observing the trial, he remains silent rather that provide exculpatory information as to Hannah's inability to read or write. He leaves the courtroom knowing he could have shortened her prison sentence by 15 years.
In the end, neither character can accept their circumstances. He can't bring himself to treat her with compassion, after being her only friend during her 20 years in prison. He can't overcome the guilt he feels about being her lover and his cowardice at her trial. During their final encounter just prior to her scheduled release, she recognizes there is no future for her outside of prison because even Michael doesn't want to be near her. Suicide is the only release from her emotional misery.