The_Closed_Society

In 1974 Heinrich Böll wrote the novel The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum. Within this novel Böll takes on the governments techniques of pursuing political dissidents, the roles of women in the West German society, and the tabloid media’s treatment of the truth. Boll’s view toward the governments use of investigative tactics is critical to say the least. The excessive monitoring of the populace is reflective of a more authoritarian regime full of conservative rhetoric and excuses. The author also shows woman as maintaining a measure of independence outside of the roles of home maker and wife. The entire novel supports these views by stylizing the press in the Federal Republic of Germany as rumor mongers who will stop at nothing to present a story in the most shocking and startling manner regards of the facts of the story. Upon the removal of occupying governments the sovereignty of Germany was split between the Soviet dominated government of the German Democratic Republic and the western influenced government of the Federal Republic of Germany. The fear of communist doctrine spreading into the western republic drove its’ government to behave in an aggressive manner when it came to political dissidents. Always mindful and fearful of the red scare, of anything socialist in nature for that matter, the police were very invasive in their surveillance and persecution of any left thinking organization. (Orlow 290-294 and 299-300) This fear of eastern influence as well as a spike in terrorism drove the western government to resort to measures outside of its’ constitutional authority. (Orlow 291) Boll relates this in his novel in the form of the police commissioner, without warranted authority, placing wire taps on Katherine Blum’s phones shortly after she first met the suspect that was under police surveillance. (Boll 9) The public prosecutor further exceeded the government’s authority by leaking information to the press in order to facilitate further information gathering. “had to thank reporters from the News as well as the publishers …have at their disposal more flexible and not always conventional methods of digging up information that had remained hidden from investigating authorities” (Boll 86-87) These incidents show how the power of the government, in this case the police and judicial branches, utilized the media in order to operate outside of constitutional authority. The media on the other hand had its’ hand on the pulse of the society in regards to how it rewrote information obtained in investigating stories. The reaction of society, buying the papers, drove the media to publish more stories of the outlandish and provocative nature. With rising fears of home grown terrorist driving public concern the news of a conservative, near virginal, single woman operating under the radar was blown up to become news of a “Murderer’s Moll” and how she was being investigated by police into how much involvement she had with the terrorist suspect Gotten. (Boll 26) “The News” in Boll’s novel new they had circulation. This knowledge of the impact on society’s view on issues was known to the people of the Republic as well. (Boll 43-44) It is through this power of exposure that the government exceeded its’ constitutional authority and the views and concerns of the society were shaped. Society was not the only demographic concerned with how they were reported in “The News”. Industry leaders were affected as well. Alois Straubleder, an industrialist, is very much concerned with how he is perceived and reported on. (Boll 67-70) The reaction of stock holders and industry chairmen is very much governed by finances as well as the public’s view of those in charge of the industries in West Germany. Straubleder’s reactions is not at all unfounded as Boll describes the descent of Ms. Blum’s friend and employer, Dr. Hubert Blorna.(Boll 92-94) The reaction of Straubleder is very self serving and rightfully so as Blorna is relegated from serving his firm in international business deals to covering tenant complaints against the holdings of the firm. Reduced to selling pieces of his past opulence to make ends meet his life was just as destroyed as Katherine’s by the view’s published in “The News”, believed by the general populace, and subsequently reacted to by the industrial firm he was contracted to. Another societal issue covered by Boll was that of gender roles in the society. Orlow shows that during the 1960s and 1970s gender relations were assuming a new stance. (Orlow 288). Political organizations such as the Greens even went so far as to advocate complete equality in the political, economic, and societal arenas. (293-294) Boll has his characters act on this in his reflection of Katherine Blum as a very capable and independent person. She did not need a man in her life unless it was on her terms. She also did not shy away from physically and verbally confronting a man should the need arise despite her position as a domestic employee. In addition to the Blum character there is that of her godmother, Else Woltersheim. Else owns and operates her own catering hall and business of which Katherine obtains part time employment. Boll’s women did not limit their power in the economic arena either. Trude Blorna, The News portrayed her as a “Red” or communist, was an architect who was also employed by the industrial firm where he husband Hubert Blorna worked. Her personality, as well as Else’s, was very forceful and self assured. The independence of women in West Germany was very highly regarded by Boll. (Boll entirety) Heinrich Boll presented a very clear picture of the people of Germany striving to reach a level of economic independence without losing sight of the direction their country was heading. It was this focus which led the government to be always aware of the influences of liberal socialists and communist within their country. The News and other organizations like it pursued and aided the fears of both the government and the people of West Germany in their pursuit of capitalism. No lover of the German tabloids, Boll shows the consequences of a government in fear oppressive regimes and how this fear can turn it into the very thing it fears.