The Reader by Bernard Schlink

A Review and discussion with the focus on a specific important issue.

Please note:  The content of this blog post includes spoilers on plot twists and excerpts from the book.  

The Background

The original book was published in 1995.  Bernhard Schlink is a professor of law at the University of Berlin and a former judge as well as an accomplished author.

I loved this book and found the read captivating. Whilst touching on the horrors and atrocities in and around the concentration camps of WW2, Schlink adds a different perspective and writes about a post-hollacaust Germany.

The beginning chapters can be described as somewhat erotic as 15 year old Michael finds himself in a love affair with a much older woman named Hanna.  The later part takes on a more philosophical element as Michael, now grown up, sees Hanna again for the first time after many years at a court trial.  She is being tried for her part in a 'death march' and the resulting deaths of jewish women and children who were locked in a church when it was struck by a bomb and burnt to the ground.  She had been employed as a guard by the SS.  During their relationship she never divulged any of this information to Michael

The main theme that runs through the book is Accepting Responsibility.  The book touches on sensitive issues such as guilt and shame that the post war generation is dealing with, and how it is that ordinary people can resort to cruelty and commit crimes against humanity.  Through the duration of the book I never warmed to either Hanna or Michael, but I did feel a pang of sympathy for Hanna when one of the sub themes of the book was revealed:  adult illiteracy.  This is a theme that I would like to discuss alongside the book explore how illiteracy is relevant in our own lives in our own country today.  I simply cannot imagine how incapacitating it must be not being able to read and write!  It is a skill we use every day and don't even think about.

"Illiteracy is dependence" - page 186 (Bernard Schlink, The Reader)

We live in a country where illiteracy is a day-to-day struggle for many.  The National Education Evaluation & Development Unit posted in 2013 that 13% of Gr 5 children (11 year olds) were illiterate.  It stands to reason that illiterate children will grow into illiterate adults.  This figure does not include children who have reading and writing skills well below the standard that they should have acquired by that age.

Adults are embarrassed of being illiterate and will often lie about it.

Hanna was embarrassed about her illiteracy and took to hiding it all cost - even getting a heavier prison sentence as a result because she admitted to writing an incriminating report, which in actual fact she could never have done!  

A person with a certain level of education (for example Gr 9), who is supposed to have mastered a skill such as reading and writing, is "more likely to lie about their abilities because of pride" according to an article on citizen.co.za - The Real Level of Literacy in South Africa.*

Many teenagers and adults in South Africa have limited reading or writing skills but do consider themselves literate when asked the question; however to truly be literate you must be able to interpret text and read for meaning - this means understanding what you are reading which develops critical thinking and reasoning.

What are the effects of illiteracy?

During a trip Michael leaves Hanna a note one morning to say that he has gone out to get breakfast.  Michael returns to find Hanna pale faced and seemingly furious.  So much so that she hits Michael in the face with a belt!  The note however has mysteriously disappeared.  At the time her outburst is irrational to Michael as well as the reader...she must be emotionally unstable!  Looking back after her illiteracy is revealed you can imagine what she felt when she woke and found a note that she was unable to read.   Helpless, frightened at not knowing where Michael had gone, fear of being found out, embarrassment...

After further research on how low levels of literacy may impact the individual, I realised that it also affects our communities and our society at large.

Here are a few points summarised so we can form a bigger picture of what these effects are:

• It is a struggle for these people to support themselves, and they depend on family, friends and the government to get by.  Resources are used to care for these individuals and families in the form of financial assistance, food provisions and additional job training.

• An inability to find employment.  Joblessness increases crime rates, which in turn increases incarceration rates.

• Illiteracy may breed more illiterate generations.  Parents impact how children feel about reading and learning according to Nicky Bush, a parenting expert.**

• Quality of life may be affected, as individuals often have low self-esteem.  Feelings of frustration and shame leads to isolation.  Being capable and independent breeds confidence.

• An increase in drug and alcohol abuse.

• It impacts on the health of the society and the individual;  understanding the health risks certain behaviours have, making positive and informed choices on hygiene, and even something as simple as reading and understanding how to correctly use and when to discard medicines.

• A lack in the skills to use technology.  Technology helps move countries forward and illiteracy slows technological growth.

Is it too late?

"...if the right time gets missed, if one has refused or been refused something for too long, it's too late, even if it is finally tackled with energy and received with joy.  Or is there no such thing as 'too late'?  Is there only 'late' and is 'late' always better than 'never'?  I don't know." - page 187 (Bernard Schlink, The Reader).

We often have a prejudice that iliterate people are stupid or ignorant.  We mustn't forget that there are various ways to obtain knowledge.  People with low literacy levels can be taught skills (e.g. cooking) and trained in certain positions or professions (e.g. carpentry or construction).  Therefore, if these same people are presented with the right opportunities and have access to the correct facilities, they can be educated and better their lives and circumstances by having their reading, writing and language skills improved.

Reading gives you access to knowledge, and knowledge is power. 

Could Hanna and Michael have had a more meaningful relationship had Hanna been open and honest about her illiteracy?  Could Michael have helped her?  Would she have made better decisions when seeking employment were she literate?  Why did Hanna never make the effort to learn how to read and write prior to her jail sentence?  

These questions we can try to answer for ourselves but it will sadly not change the outcome of Hanna's story,  but we can assist in changing the outcome of someone else's story.  In the end the book proves to us though that it is never too late to learn.   It is never too late to make a choice, to make a difference and to make a change.  We can all play a part in helping to move our country forward by assisting in the education of our communities.  We can educate our youth and assist those who need help with improving their literacy and understanding.  The skill to read is one of the greatest gifts a person can obtain.  As with education it is something that no one can ever take away.

Literary Me is endeavouring to create an initiative in support of the cause for literacy to create a better future for South Africa.  Watch out for future blog posts on this topic!

Here are a few websites to visit if you would like to read more about empowering people and assisting with education and literacy:

Word Works - www.wordworks.org.za

The Sine Centre - www.shineliteracy.org.za

The South African Education & Environment Project - www.saep.org

ORT - SA Cape - www.ortsacape.org.za


Sources:

*http://citizen.co.za/news/news-national/31407/literatez/

**http://www.702.co.za/articles/10329/how-to-build-children-s-word-power-through-reading-and-communication