What do you think “Das Lila Lied” (“The Lilac Song”) means to Bertie, Sofie, Karl, and Gert? What do you think it represents in the story itself?
Bertie explained to Karl that “Das Lila Lied” was the “anthem of our community.” It was sung at every party, show, and wherever they could “get away with it.” It was written in honor of Dr. Hirschfeld and was a statement about solidarity, belonging, and being who the lilac people were meant to be. It is not at all unusual for communities and countries to have anthems, and sometimes a specific musical piece becomes symbolic organically simply as members of the community relate to and adopt it as representative of who they are, what they believe, etc. For Sofie and Bertie, it was reminder of happier times when they were with their friends and able to be their authentic selves in a safe environment. When they felt progress toward equality was being made and would continue as the public became educated and tolerance grew. For Karl, it was part of his inclusion in the family he found with Sofie and Bertie, and an affirmation of his acceptance. It was a symbol of his survival and finding his way in the world as a free man who would never again have to endure what he suffered in Dachau.