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Lessons in French


"An appealing debut novel...Paris entrances" - Editor's Choice, Oprah.com
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How do you think the Berlin Wall works as a metaphor in the novel? How does this resonate with your own associations from this time?

Created: 10/17/14

Replies: 8

Posted Oct. 17, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

How do you think the Berlin Wall works as a metaphor in the novel? How does this resonate with your own associations from this time?

How do you think the Berlin Wall works as a metaphor in the novel? How does this resonate with your own associations from the time of its fall?


Posted Oct. 21, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joyces

Join Date: 06/16/11

Posts: 410

RE: How do you think the Berlin Wall works as a metaphor in the novel? How does this resonate with your own associations from this time?

I am having hard time seeing a metaphor here. It is probably just me but hopefully someone will draw me a picture.


Posted Oct. 21, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
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donnac

Join Date: 03/26/14

Posts: 139

RE: How do you think the Berlin Wall works as a metaphor in the novel? How does this resonate with your own associations from this time?

As you pointed out in answer to another question, joyes, I too think this is a coming of age story more than anything. In that way maybe the Berlin Wall is a metaphor for the walls of Kate's youth falling away. Her horizons are expanding, etc.. Possibly a bit far fetched, but I'm putting it out there for discussion. I'm open to others' opinions on this. What do you think?


Posted Oct. 23, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
LindaB.

Join Date: 06/11/14

Posts: 80

RE: How do you think the Berlin Wall works as a metaphor in the novel? How does this resonate with your own associations from this time?

I felt like the dysfunction of the family was related to the Berlin Wall. Every facet of this group was crumbling in some way.


Posted Oct. 26, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
pennyp

Join Date: 03/22/12

Posts: 353

RE: How do you think the Berlin Wall works as a metaphor in the novel? How does this resonate with your own associations from this time?

It was pretty abstract. I guess the wall was symbolic of those things that we think of as permanent and stable no lasting forever. That could be relationships, talent, health or whatever else we hold sacred in this world. The wall could have also Been there to show a time in history that also was undergoing a lot of chance. A nice parallel to the central story.


Posted Oct. 27, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebeccar

Join Date: 03/13/12

Posts: 548

RE: How do you think the Berlin Wall works as a metaphor in the novel? How does this resonate with your own associations from this time?

Hmmm... I have to admit that I never thought of the Berlin Wall as a "metaphor" in this book.


Posted Oct. 27, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mariannes

Join Date: 12/17/12

Posts: 206

RE: How do you think the Berlin Wall works as a metaphor in the novel? How does this resonate with your own associations from this time?

Actually, I didn't think the Berlin Wall had much to do with the story,except that it showed that Lydia's work involved current world events.


Posted Oct. 28, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
RiverLee

Join Date: 10/20/14

Posts: 4

RE: How do you think the Berlin Wall works as a metaphor in the novel? How does this resonate with your own associations from this time?

I agree with Linda B. I also think it was representative of Kate. She wanted to "break out" and become her own person, and yet she stuck with her oldself for quite awhile; people pleasing, codependency. Like the people in East Berlin who didn't have many choices when the wall was up, Kate went along with what she knew regarding her old behaviors. It took her awhile to break down that wall and find who she really wanted to be.
I remember when the turmoil was going on about the Berlin Wall coming down. It was a process that took awhile. It didn't just happen in a day or so. People living in East Berlin weren't sure how it was going to affect them. Would they still have there state jobs and pensions? It must have been frightening and confusing. Change is never easy, and that is what Kate finally realized.


Posted Oct. 31, 2014 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
susanr

Join Date: 04/14/11

Posts: 201

RE: How do you think the Berlin Wall works as a metaphor in the novel? How does this resonate with your own associations from this time?

River Lee put it very well - the Berlin Wall was representative of the change going on in Kate's life.


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