In 1995, German author Bernhard Schlink penned his most celebrated novel, “The Reader”, soaring to the top of the New York Times bestseller list, captivating global audiences.
While some found love within its pages, others confronted sin. The novel’s heroine, Hanna, is consumed by the shame of illiteracy, longing for genuine affection, yet pridefully denies her deeply entrenched sins. Her internal struggles stem from a profound sense of inferiority.
1. Insecurity: A Barrier Even Love Can’t Overcome
Post-WWII Berlin witnessed a particularly harsh winter when 15-year-old Michael encountered Hanna, 21 years his senior. Their meeting, initially mere fate, would forever alter their destinies. One day, Michael, plagued by jaundice, suddenly fell ill on his way to school. At his weakest, a graceful woman came to his aid, not just helping him rise, but also comforting him tenderly. From that moment, Michael felt a deep attraction to her, this woman named Hanna. Feeling neglected at home due to his frail health and overlooked at school because of his modest background, Michael’s sense of inferiority had always been pronounced. He believed that no one truly cared about him. But Hanna, like warm sunlight in winter, brought solace to his heart and made him yearn for her embrace.
Once Michael recovered, he located Hanna’s residence and approached her with a bouquet. Their relationship blossomed, marked by passionate secret meetings, just like any other couple. But Hanna always had one request – for Michael to read aloud to her. The tales from the books evoked laughter and tears alike, and his readings seemed to have a calming influence on her. Recognizing this, Michael began using his reading skills to manage Hanna’s moods, drawing her admiration.
Michael’s relationship with the mature and alluring Hanna boosted his confidence. His commitment to reading for her not only improved his academics but also enhanced his social standing, earning friends and attention. As Michael transformed into a confident young man, Hanna’s demeanor shifted towards melancholy. The reality of her age became evident when juxtaposed with Michael’s youthful peers. Deep down, she hid a secret – her illiteracy, the root of her inferiority.
With her age and experiences, Hanna always seemed to hold the upper hand in her relationship with Michael. His dedicated readings for her helped ease her insecurities.
As Michael began to find his own identity, Hanna was gripped by an uncontrollable fear: What could be the future of their relationship? It reminded her of a quote by Zhang Ailing: “Once a man truly understands a woman, he may no longer love her.”
Their days became filled with arguments and tensions. Eventually, using a job change as a reason, Hanna chose to leave without saying goodbye, marking the end of their love story.
The book “Inferiority and Transcendence” suggests that humans naturally desire control and a sense of superiority. For both Hanna and Michael, their relationship was like a lifeline they both desperately tried to grasp. However, as they held onto different ends of this lifeline, while one ascended, the other inevitably descended.
2. Hiding Inferiority: A Path to Self-Destruction
Years later, when Michael bumped into Hanna again, he was no longer the naive boy but a law student, often attending court hearings with his professor. Their unexpected reunion took place in a solemn courtroom during a trial concerning WWII war crimes. To Michael’s shock, one of the defendants was Hanna, his past lover.
Back in the war, Hanna was a guard at a concentration camp, responsible for sending inmates on the deadly journey to Auschwitz.
As Michael struggled with the revelation, he came to realize that the woman he had once adored was not the angelic figure he remembered but was associated with heinous war crimes.
While the other guards denied their crimes, Hanna was the only one who admitted guilt, albeit with a sense of bewilderment. In her defense, she believed she was only following orders and even questioned the judge on how he might have acted in her position.
During the final hearing, a report detailing the crimes was presented, and the handwriting was attributed to Hanna by the other guards. When asked to verify her handwriting, Hanna hesitated. It was then that Michael realized the truth: Hanna was illiterate and couldn’t possibly have written the report.
He could have been the key witness to prove her innocence, but out of shame and embarrassment, he chose silence over truth, mirroring Hanna’s own past decision to leave without an explanation.
Ultimately, due to her refusal to admit her illiteracy and with no one else to defend her, Hanna was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.
People who feel inferior often seek perfection, unable to accept their own flaws. They hide their insecurities deep within. Aren’t we all guilty of this at times? Pretending to be wealthier than we are, proclaiming the joys of single life after a heartbreaking split, or showing off a facade of a happy marriage?
In reality, what we lack and fear, we often try to hide. By doing so, we might be pushing ourselves towards another kind of downfall. Not acknowledging our true selves is like denying our existence.
Concealing our insecurities means we’ll never truly overcome them, and will end up paying the price for our entire lives.
3. Overcoming Insecurities: Finding Peace with Oneself
When Michael and Hanna parted ways for the first time, it left him heartbroken. Their second separation, though, stripped away any hope of a future together. Michael, once a timid boy, grew into a successful man. However, despite his achievements, his romantic life remained unfulfilled, and he found himself weighed down by guilt and self-doubt.
To cope, he began recording himself reading books and sent the tapes to Hanna in prison. This ritual persisted for a decade, and through this act, they sought mutual redemption.
When Hanna received her first tape, she was deeply moved by Michael’s gesture. With the help of these recordings, she began the process of teaching herself to read and write, breaking free from the chains of her illiteracy and past insecurities. Four years into his recordings, Michael received a handwritten letter from her, a testament to her determination and progress.
It’s never too late to start anew, and only you can truly save yourself. Michael was genuinely proud of Hanna’s accomplishments, and upon hearing about her upcoming release after eighteen years, he helped arrange a place for her to stay.
When they met again, Hanna had aged significantly, her golden locks now silver strands. They spoke not of their past romance but of the trial that had separated them. Hanna’s simple response to her past actions was, “The dead can’t be brought back.”
Overcoming insecurities requires introspection and self-awareness. Hanna’s efforts to overcome her illiteracy were only the beginning of her journey. She delved deeper, reflecting on her role during the Nazi regime, confronting her involvement and the shame she felt. This exploration brought her to realize her deeper insecurities, rooted in guilt and regret.
On the dawn of her release, Hanna took her own life, surrounded by books about the Nazis. She left her savings to one of the few Jewish survivors from the camp, in a final act of redemption and reconciliation with her past. Scribbled on her will were the words, “Hope.”
Final Thoughts
If given the choice, no one would wish to feel insecure; we all hope for our lives to be meaningful. But when insecurities unexpectedly cross our path, addressing them becomes a lifelong challenge. Many confess, “I’ve often hidden my insecurities, avoided envy, and put on a facade of confidence throughout my life.”
But remember, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Acknowledge every facet of yourself, even the parts you’re not proud of. Use your insecurities as a catalyst for growth. By confronting and overcoming them, and by positively contributing to society, you can truly become a better version of yourself.
May you always strive for goodness and growth, instead of letting insecurities define your journey.
