Ryan C Post 2

Again Part II reminded me of The Stranger with Hanna’s trial and the reactions of the people around her, especially Michael. Michael frequently describes an emotional numbness throughout Hanna’s trial, which makes me wonder how this developed. Did Hanna’s sudden disappearance ruin Michael’s hope of a loving relationship or does Michael now view Hanna as just another person from the previous generation whom committed atrocities, I think the reason is the former because during the trial, Michael remembers having sex with Hanna, which makes me believe he hasn't completely erased her from his life. I think it’s interesting that Hanna frequently takes the blame for the war crimes and the fellow defendants continually blame Hanna for the actions. I think this serves as a microcosm of Germany as a whole. This new generation is putting all the blame on the previous generation for the actions of the Third Reich, even some solely by association. More clearly seen when Michael believes his own father is also at fault despite teaching different philosophies. The man who gives Michael a ride to the camp provides an interesting point of view. He says that that Nazis were rather indifferent towards Jews, they only murdered the Jews because it was their job, and they were following orders. I know that a lot of people charged with war crimes involved with the Holocaust were released because they were simply following orders, had they not, they would have been killed. Even though the man was a Nazi himself and is biased, I do not think his point is compromised.