Throughout the novel, Bertie demonstrates a fixation with inanimate objects, such as where they came from and where they went. Why do you think this is?
I wondered two things about this. (1) Could it have been a kind of calming mechanism for him; and (2) Is it more about having factual, fixed answers. In a time of such uncertainty, where something came from and what happened to it could give resolution where there otherwise isn’t.
I think it was to give comfort and distract. The reputation provided a safe outlet to focus on
Bertie, like everyone else, had loss so much. Sometimes an object can be both a calming tool but also a symbol of a better time and hope. It is tangible, not just words. Also, by Bertie wondering about the object, he was still involved in the world and thinking rather than just existing.
Although, I will say every time the photos came out, I was nervous for the characters.
It seemed to be a way of keeping hope alive, that these objects had endured unscathed.
Inanimate objects that once belonged to loved ones represent those individuals. They also summon memories, often vivid, of the people we miss and remind us of the characteristics we loved about those folks. I have many objects in my home that belonged to my parents and were in my childhood home when I was growing up. They include a lamp in my living room that my parents bought to commemorate their 25th wedding anniversary, and a clock hanging in my family room that hung in the family room of our family home. It meant a great deal to my mother, and it chimes every hour & half hour to this day, bringing me comfort and making my house feel like my genuine home. Bertie found himself looking at his album containing photos of his departed friends, and he took the hat he believed had belonged to Gert. Those acts were his way of keeping the essence and memories of Gert and his other friends with him. I never saw those acts as evincing a fixation with the inanimate objects nor did I find Bertie’s behavior alarming or concerning, a manifestation of something deeply amiss. Rather, I found Bertie’s behavior to be a typical way of seeking solace and comfort, part of the grieving process.
Bertie’s fixation with inanimate objects is a coping mechanism and reflects his emotional state. It was shaped by the trauma he experienced from war, loss, and survival. Fixating on objects gives him a sense of control. They don’t die or disappear without a reason. Their origins have meaning. They are connections to the past and stability. They can be witnesses to history, carriers of stories, or even symbols for people he has lost. They allow him to preserve memories. His focus on the “journey” of objects parallels his own.
Focusing on things instead of people helps Bertie keep a safe emotional distance. Exploring the history of objects is far less painful than confronting grief or guilt.
Bertie’s focus on objects is not odd; it’s a window into his inner life, a reflection of his desire for stability and connection.
Some of the key objects Bertie fixates on:
- The Lilac Brooch is one of the most symbolic items. It belonged to someone important, probably his mother. It could represent memory, love, or identity.
- Photographs that Bertie had connected him to his past. They allowed Bertie to feel bonded to people who were no longer with him and were reminders of his identity.
- The Watch symbolized lost time, a moment in time, or a life interrupted. This subtle image reflects Bertie’s preoccupation with the past and his struggle to move forward.
- Sofie’s Scarf or Clothing that Bertie may have noticed could represent intimacy, longing, or routine.
- The Music Box or Gramophone appears briefly and is perhaps connected to Das Lila Lied or another recollection, which triggers memories and emotions.
Each object Bertie lingers over helps fill the emotional void left by lost people, shattered relationships, and the horrors of war. His attention to their origins and fate suggests a deeper yearning to find meaning and stability in a world that has altered both.
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