Why do you think Karl was so resistant to masculinity lessons despite identifying as a man?
I think he resisted because the lessons were, in a way, being forced on him. He didn’t have a choice but to have the lessons in order to be perceived as a man. I think if it were a different time and situation, he would have been amenable to it being done on his own terms.
I think it would be difficult to change the person you have presented yourself as for your whole life. Even if you felt that was not who you truly were. We are all resistant to change and fall into what is comfortable. The unknown of how you will be seen, treated etc. after you’ve made that change could be quite concerning.
Karl was a very cautious person and did not want any association with anything that could make his life more scary. He knew he was more save by not outing himself. We have seen that Republican senators and congressmen won’t go against Trump for fear of reprisals. These people are afraid of getting negative statements and may be replaced with other “loyal” Trumpers.
Typo: safe not save.
I agree with the answers above. I would also add he was exhausted. It is so hard to be someone you are not, “to pretend” so that you fit in and make others comfortable. My heart ached for him. Yet, I did realize that if he was to survive, he must learn these skills.
I suppose Karl felt like he wanted to appear in the world as he saw himself-and not as some caricature of what a particular society dictates is masculine behavior, attire, mannerisms, etc. It created a lot of stress for him to be constantly worried about making a mistake-a mistake that could cost him his life.
I think Karl was so young and was not sure where to find help or support. How could he feel safe to be himself when his own family threw him out? He was hiding in plain sight. That coudl not have been easy. And I forget how long he was in Dachau–years?? How do you trust after that experience?? And he was threatened to be put inot a prison where it woudl happen all over again.
Karl’s story was the most painful for me. After all the abuse, he was just a shell of a man. It’s a wonder he didn’t give up. I’m sure he just wanted to live his life “normally” and was exhausted of hiding his true self.
I got the sense that Karl found it extremely difficult & exhausting to have to work at presenting himself to the world in a way that didn’t feel natural to him. I also felt that he resented it – as did Bertie – which was understandable. There was also a sense of defeat emanating from Karl because of what he had suffered at the hands of the Nazis. In some ways, he viewed the effort as futile, while Bertie had enjoyed more success living as his authentic self prior to the attack on the Institute which brought his career there and the life he had known to an end. Bertie continued to encourage and tutor Karl, who was able to summon the strength to work at presenting himself to the world in ways that would not arouse suspicion when it became really critical that he do so.
It was an important aspect of the story. A strong commentary on perception, deception, and the desire & need to belong.