Max von der Grün: masks
The short story "Masks" by Max von der Grün describes an almost clichéd situation. But it also makes the reader excited about it, which is due to the fact that you can already guess its end at the beginning.
Masks - content of the short story
- By chance, Renate and Erich meet at the Cologne train station. The two were a couple 15 years ago and have not seen each other since. Renate had left Erich in an argument. She accused him of not having a good job and of not being able to offer her anything.
- But now the anger from then is gone. Although Renate actually wants to travel, both go for a drink together. They talk about their current life, especially about what they have achieved. Renate says she is the manager of a textile mail order company, Erich talks about his job as purchasing manager at a shipyard.
- Both are unmarried and discover in the course of the conversation that they still like the other. But neither of them has the courage to admit this, and so they finally part ways.
- Renate starts crying on the train and regrets lying to Erich about her job - actually she's still a saleswoman. Erich starts a new job on a construction site, he also lied.
- the story ends with Erich quarreling with himself: he could follow Renate and tell her the truth. But he decides against it because she has risen so far professionally (at least that's what he thinks).
Interpretation of short prose - this is how you succeed in the lecture
Short prose is one of the most popular topics in German lessons. Students must ...
Max's interpretation of the Greens story
- Max von der Grün (1926-2005) was born the son of an impoverished noblewoman and a farmhand. This simple origin influenced the subjects of his work all his life - time and again it was about the working class, time and again about public image.
- What is the core of the story treated here is actually already revealed in the title: As soon as you get to the Reading keeps in mind that the text is called "masks", you know that neither Renate nor Erich really get a good job Has. The two wear masks because they are ashamed in front of the other of who they really are.
- That has to do with the past of their relationship: Renate once accused Erich of nothing "better" and now does not want to admit that, although she strived for higher things, she was still on the spot occurs. Erich does not want to confirm Renate's allegations from then.
- Nevertheless, the whole time it seems that both of them still love each other after all this time. What gets in their way in the end is nothing but pure vanity. It is the fear of embarrassing themselves in front of the other, taking off the mask and losing standing that keeps them from getting closer to each other again.
- The special thing about the text is that the reader knows what is going on all the time. You experience both Renate and Erich's thoughts and witness the discrepancy between their inner being and what they are playing to the other.
It is obvious that Max von der Grün is clearly critical of society in this text. He criticizes society, which is primarily about money and reputation, and the fact that feelings count less than the image that is given to the outside world. The hopeless ending fits this perfectly: Erich and Renate "are too deeply involved" in this thinking. You simply do not have the ability to let go of the mask.
