Consumerism/Materialism
With its central location in Berlin—and with Doris’ ever-present emphasis upon the glamour and fashion of Berlin life—it is clear that consumerism is a central theme, both to Doris’ character and to the novel as a whole. The entire novel is defined by the consumeristic lifestyle that defined and infiltrated German life before Nazism. The novel—and Doris’ ambitions—hinge upon the idea that consuming more, and better goods will make one more attractive and appealing, and thus lead to upward mobility. This, in fact, is one of Doris’ primary ambitions throughout the novel—to purchase and consume her way to success and prosperity. As a result, it is clear that materialism and consumeristic habits are key themes throughout this novel, one that helps to define the mindsets of wealthy individuals in pre-World War II Germany.
The Dark Side of Glamour
In this novel, Doris views Berlin as the epitome of glamour—as the ultimate hotbed of all that is beautiful and desirable. Free from the overbearing and patriarchal control of a man, Doris moves to Berlin with the intention to create a life for herself, one filled with glamour and allure. With her deeply ingrained consumeristic and materialistic beliefs, Doris spends a small fortune on clothes, hats, scarves, jewelry—all in the effort to create the illusion of glamour and wealth. The cost of living in Berlin, however, is incredibly high and, without a job (which Doris struggles to find because she is a woman), she begins to devolve—as does her life. Doris’ materialistic behaviors and efforts soon leave her poor and struggling to find food. As a result, despite her desire to live autonomously and without relying upon men, Doris is forced to use her cleverness and looks to grab the attention of men who can support her and provide her food. In this way, Doris’ story exposes the dark side of the glamour—a side that reveals the struggles of those who do not truly have the means to uphold such an expensive and wealthy lifestyle. Doris’ story shows that glamour is a fickle idea, one that can cause great personal loss if it becomes an obsession. Though glamour is certainly alluring, it can also come at a great cost.
The Contradictory Modern Woman
In this novel, Doris characterizes two rather contradictory versions of the “modern woman”—as defined by 1930s Germany. Doris makes a point to disregard men (and her reliance on them) whilst still using them for her own advantage. Despite her disregard for these men, Doris find herself conflicted by the fact that she is drawn to men who are so often taken—either by a wife or mistress elsewhere. Though she realizes that she must still rely on men to attain upward mobility, she recognizes her own value as an autonomous, intelligent individual. Doris also opposes the conventions of domesticity and marriage, and yet grows frustrated that the world around her has not yet adopted these same values. As a result, despite her insistence that she does not need men to provide for her, Doris—under the immense and expensive pressure of Berlin life—finds herself conforming to these patriarchal views, as her opportunities are limited. Therefore, one of the primary themes of this story is portrayed through these contradicting views of the “modern woman.” Though women were beginning to take control of their livelihoods and repel male support, they were limited by societal conventions, which made it very difficult to live autonomously without the help of a man. As a result, this new modern woman (characterized in Doris) was trapped by and torn between a desire for autonomy and the sexist conventions of society.
