While I was reading Grass's Nobel Prize Speech, I noticed he talked about the concept of a "positive hero," one that gives people hope. This "positive hero" figure conquers people in the globalized world, is suave, fit, and admired; his example is James Bond. Instead of crafting a novel centered on this type of hero, Grass writes about Oskar, certainly an atypical hero, if he is one at all. Oskar is certainly not suave nor fit, and I myself can't say I admire him.
Why do you all think that Grass decided to create a character who, rather than provides us with hope, deeply unsettles us?
5 comments:
Like Grass also states in his speech, being a writer is a dangerous and risky business. When writing a story that ties in with reality, writers are unable to "leave the past in peace" and are "quick to open closed wounds". Many novels, including "The Tin Drum," are based on touchy subjects like that of WWII and the Nazi regime. Now in order for a character to be a "positive hero," he/she must have a point of view on the main subject of discussion. However, with the intention of avoiding possible conflicts with readers and critics, Grass does not have his protagonist Oskar take a position on the war. Therefore, he cannot be a "positive hero" and provide readers with a sense of hope.
Grass was a member of the S.S. He criticizes himself in his speech. For some reason this made me think about comparing Oskar to Hitler. Hitler was allowed to come to power because he was admired by the German people and suave in him persuasive speeches. Yet in retrospect, Hitler was an immature person with a corrupt grasp on reality. Oskar represents both of these aspects. Oskar is admired by himself. He views himself as an intelligent man, the positive hero. However, from an outsider's point of view, Oskar has no firm grasp on reality.
Grass creates an unsettling hero because in this postmodern era it is impossible to be a positive hero. The imperfection of humanity along with the ambiguity of morality culminate in a protagonist who cannot be considered "good," or even "evil." Oskar represents the true face of humanity, which is neither suave nor admirable and certainly not heroic.
I also think that Oskar is a character who, in some ways, is similar to Grass. Both Oskar and Grass are people who do not conform to society. Grass himself is an "atypical hero" in how he writes very disturbing works of literature to convey his point of view. Grass also had trouble revealing his history as an S.S. officer, just as Oskar struggles with accountability for the deaths of his mother, Jan, and Matzerath.
I also agree that Grass and Oskar are similiar in character. I believe this is so because "Tin Drum" is based on Grass's real life experiences and Germany's past. Grass states that when he was young, he simply observed when the Nazi's torched synagogues and did not ask questions when his friends suddenly dissapeared. Oskar is like this in a way. Although he disrupts Nazi meetings by playing his drum, I do not think that he was intentionally going against the Nazi's. Also, when the toystore was burned down, Oskar was more upset that his drum supply was cut off, rather than being concerned with the political reasons behind the torching. At younger ages, it seems like Oskar and Grass had passive attitudes toward the Nazis and corrupt Germany.
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