Metaphorical representations of the “German economic miracle” in the prose of Bernhard Schlink

Abstract

This article discusses the difficult postwar years of Germany reflected in the works of B. Schlink, as well as assesses the impact of economic circumstances upon the formation of German collective consciousness. The object of this research is the novels “The Justice of Selb”, “The Deceit of Selb”, “The Farewell of Selb” by B. Schlink. The subject of this research is the artistic peculiarities of representation of the “German economic miracle” in the prose of B. Schlink. The writer had a critical attitude on idealizing the results of Germany's rapid economic development. He believes that mythologization of the positive results of economic development is only one side to a coin. A profound analysis of the listed novels by B. Schlink, dedicated to the theme of postwar restoration of Germany, gives a better perspective on the writer’s role in the German literary process during the late XX – early XXI centuries, which defines the relevance of this research. The goal of this article lies in studying the importance of mythological representations associated with the rapid recovery and economic development of Germany in the consciousness of the German nation, as well as their reflection in the works of Bernhard Schlink. In his novels, B. Schlink not only mentions the return of former Nazis to public and civil posts, but also draws the images of the prosperous postwar existence of German industrialists, whose factories used to supply the needs of the Reich. Depicting the conflict between the characters, the writer destroys one of their pleasant elements of the myth of “German economic miracle”. The hero – Detective Selb – reflects on the ethical questions pertinent to economic development. The life-changing event in national history, which allowed Germany to regain its rightful place among the European nations, is linked by the author with a range of negative consequences, such as development of the psychology of “consumerism” in the society, concealment of the German national past, detection of significant environmental problems, and escalation of radical moods among German youth.