Genuine mockery in a form of faux care
Not used to being the center of attention, Katharina Blum has to cope with enormous emotional pressure. It could be much easier, if people would have been not so quick to judge. Even relatives and friends of a newly found scapegoat unwillingly become public figures, thus forcing to put up with mockery. A distant relative of Katharina Blum, Elsa Woltersheim, certainly was not prepared to find a copy of the News with a new shocking article about Katharina “which a friendly neighbor had pushed under Miss Woltersheim’s front door”.
A love life of the nun
The protagonist of the novel, Katharina Blum, is believed to have high moral standards. This is what her friends think of her. Her modesty is so impressive that they start calling her the nun. Quickly enough this perfect image is rather damaged, courtesy of the News. Under the influence of the fake news, her neighbors begin believing that Katharina is really a sort of an escort girl. Being affected with this situation, Katharina Blum even refuses to allow Moeding, a police officer, to take her up to her apartment, saying that “I have enough gentlemen visitors, as you know”. The irony of her words is especially striking because of the fact that Moeding is familiar with Katharina well enough to know that she doesn’t have any gentlemen visitors.
Advantages of being a rich and attractive
Katharina Blum arouses suspicion of the police when they find an extremely expensive diamond ring and a love letter. Although it has nothing to do with Ludwig Götten, she prefers keeping silence. The gift and the letter are from Sträubleder and this fact could avert suspicion from her, if only she could tell about it. Katharina is convinced that no one is going to believe that a woman like her could resist Sträubleder, who is “famous in the political, economic, and academic world for his irresistible charm”. Her silence saves his reputation and maybe even his career for no one would be able to predict where a scandal could lead to.
