From German South West Africa to Eastern Europe's"Living Space":On the Multidirectional Memory Writing in Schlink's Generation Novel Olga
Bernhard Schlink's intergenerational novel Olga set within the framework of family memory,employs fictionalization and multiple perspectives to narrate the life stories of three generations in 20th century Germany,unveiling the full scope of Germany's tumultuous history during that period.The novel writes multidirectional memory in the sense of Rothberg and Zimmerer,revealing the similarities and continuities between German colonialism and Nazi ideology in terms of"colonial racism".It particularly highlights the intrinsic link between the genocide committed by German colonizers against the Herero in German South West Africa and the Nazi appropriation of the"living space"in Eastern Europe.The novel urges readers not to adopt simplistic or radical stances when considering the catastrophic events of Germany's history in the first half of the 20th century.Instead,it advocates for a rational and comprehensive reflection on Germany's colonial and Nazi histories by engaging with the currently discussed multidirectional memory discourse,exploring the common political and intellectual roots of these histories,such as theories of racial and civilizational superiority,Bismarck's German nationalism and militarism,and Nietzsche's philosophy of"Ubermensch".
万方数据
