Antisemitism
One of the most important themes in the novel is antisemitism. The novel is set against the backdrop of pre-WWII Austria, a period in which Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party started to take power across Europe. Part of their rise to power involved rampant and horrific antisemitism--antisemitism which culminated in the Holocaust and the deaths of millions of Jews.
In the context of the novel, Franz and Otto face profound antisemitism. Because he is Jewish, Otto's shop is vandalized several times, causing him heartache, time, and tremendous expense. Not only that, Otto starts to lose customers and is discriminated against because of his religion. Eventually, this antisemitism results in Otto's death. The town's butcher tells the Gestapo (the Nazi secret police) that Otto is selling prohibited items out of his shop. Otto, in turn, is arrested by the Gestapo and thrown in jail, where he ultimately dies because of poor treatment.
In the novel, Seethaler explores how destructive antisemitism can be. Even though Otto isn't harming anyone, his identity, which involves being peaceful, causes people around him to treat him poorly and ultimately causes his death. When Franz points this out to the man who turned Otto in, he realizes how foolish his antisemitic attitudes are.
War
The novel is set in the lead-up to--and during--World War II. World War II was one of the most transformative events in the history of the world. It resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of people, caused a Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, and radically altered the culture of countries across the world. For Otto and Franz, the war transformed their lives and ultimately resulted in their deaths, showing the awful aspects of war, which the book argues should be avoided whenever possible. The novel is simultaneously a warning about the horrors of war and a warning about the horrors a dangerous autocratic dictator like Adolf Hitler could inflict.
Identity
At the beginning of the novel, Franz is a naive young man from a small town who has not yet been exposed to the complexities of the outside world. After his mother sends him to Vienna to learn more about the tobacconist business from Otto, his identity begins to shift rather dramatically. He starts to adapt to the politics and unique complexities of city life. This shift in identity also mirrors the shift occurring in Europe due to Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party.
As Franz interacts with people in his world, including Otto and Freud, he begins to shape his political and personal identity. These people (Freud especially) play crucial roles in influencing Franz's worldview and ethical stance, especially against the backdrop of rising anti-Semitism and the Nazi regime. Despite coming of age in a difficult time, Franz is able to find his identity. He discovers that he is a kind, empathetic, hard-working, and righteous man capable of doing a lot of good in the world.
