Devotion: Analysis of Major Characters
"Devotion: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the intricate emotional landscape of three central characters following a traumatic breakup. Richard Schroubek, a thirty-one-year-old bookseller, grapples with profound isolation after his girlfriend, Hannah Beyl, abruptly leaves him. This separation triggers a downward spiral into neglect and despair, as Richard withdraws from society, neglects personal hygiene, and deteriorates both physically and emotionally. Hannah, a twenty-five-year-old woman, appears to struggle with her own demons after abandoning Richard, showcasing signs of distress during their sporadic encounters. Her fleeting relationships, particularly with another character, Fritz, further complicate the dynamics of grief and longing in the narrative. Fritz, a nervous school porter, also grapples with the fallout of Hannah’s departure and seeks to connect with both Richard and Hannah in his own troubled manner. The character interactions reflect themes of abandonment, the search for meaning in personal connections, and the psychological impact of loss. This exploration of their lives offers a poignant look at how individuals cope with emotional devastation and the subsequent challenges of reconnection.
Devotion: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Botho Strauss
First published: Die Widmung, 1977 (English translation, 1979)
Genre: Novel
Locale: West Berlin
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: Summer, 1976
Richard Schroubek (SHREW-behk), a thirty-one-year-old bookseller by trade, recently abandoned by his girlfriend, Hannah Beyl. For Richard, who calls separation the most terrifying and shattering of all types of personal catastrophe, Hannah's departure means the destruction of all prior connection to and identification with society. Without actually quitting or calling in sick, he simply stops working and sells an inherited Max Beckmann etching as a means of financially supporting his state of misery. He establishes a postal checking account, forgoing interest for the sake of solitude (he can withdraw money through the mail), and retreats to his apartment. Richard's isolation is interrupted initially only by Frau N., the cleaning woman, and then by Fritz, another man rejected by Hannah. Gradually, the protagonist develops bad habits such as not bathing, not changing clothes regularly, and not cleaning. The general dirtiness and disorderliness of the apartment are greatly intensified by the mishaps to which the protagonist becomes prone.
Hannah Beyl (bil), the twenty-five-year-old girlfriend who suddenly and without explanation abandons Richard. Later, she spends three days with Fritz, only to leave him just as suddenly. Twice, Hannah seemingly attempts to re-establish contact with Richard. It is obvious from her appearance at an eventual meeting with Richard that she has suffered since leaving him. Her eyes are red and her face ashen; she has lost weight; she is drunk, dirty, and unkempt; and she seems to be involved in some questionable financial dealings. Hannah remains indifferent and unresponsive toward Richard, unwilling to engage herself in the dialogue he so desperately desires.
Fritz, a school porter. Fat, in his mid-twenties, and very nervous, Fritz enjoyed a brief affair with Hannah. Apparently deeply disturbed by her sudden disappearance, Fritz pushes his way into Richard's apartment and attempts to enter her study; however, Richard, who regards Fritz's misery and suffering as superficial in comparison to his own, blockades himself in Hannah's former room. He leaves when Hannah calls to arrange a meeting; she calls back later to cancel, but Richard already has left and Fritz answers the phone. Fritz arranges to meet Hannah and is still in her company just prior to Richard's arrival.
Frau N., the house cleaner. The same age as and originally hired by Hannah, Frau N. stops coming to clean the apartment when Richard can no longer pay her. Richard misses her normality, her loquaciousness, and her constant references to Hannah.