Many German literary texts have a didactic element, aiming to educate readers about the dangers of unchecked conflict and the value of peace. They often present conflict as a process that can be understood, analyzed, and, ultimately, transformed. This aligns with the German peacebuilding approach, which emphasizes interest reconciliation, addressing structural causes, and creating conditions for sustainable, peaceful development.
literature
private confessions
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne: The novel explores the consequences of adultery in Puritan New England. Community leaders and townspeople act as moral judges, considering both public evidence and private confessions as they mete out social punishment and reconciliation. The book highlights how American society has historically balanced objective facts (the visible scarlet letter) and subjective testimony (personal guilt, confession) in resolving moral and social conflicts.
analysis, truth, causes
German literary themes often mirror the country’s approach to conflict resolution by emphasizing rational analysis, the search for truth, and a deep engagement with the causes and consequences of conflict. This is evident in several ways:
1. Analytical and Evidence-Based Narratives: German literature frequently adopts a methodical, almost investigative approach to conflict. Works often reconstruct the origins and dynamics of disputes, reflecting a cultural preference for understanding “why” something happened rather than simply assigning blame. This mirrors the German mediator’s focus on reconstructing causes and seeking objective evidence.
2. Focus on Structural Causes and Complexity. German literary works tend to explore not just individual conflicts, but also the broader structural, historical, and societal factors that give rise to them. For example, literature from the post-Cold War era and after World War II often grapples with the legacy of violence, the trauma of war, and the processes of reconciliation and rebuilding. This reflects a systemic approach to conflict resolution, where understanding the underlying structures is key to lasting peace.
3. Didactic and Reflective Elements. Many German literary texts serve a didactic purpose, encouraging readers to reflect critically on conflict, violence, and their own roles in society. This aligns with the German tradition of using literature as a tool for public conscience and collective learning, fostering dialogue and self-examination as part of the resolution process.
4. Emphasis on Dialogue and Multiple Perspectives. German literature often presents conflicts through multiple viewpoints, highlighting the importance of dialogue, empathy, and understanding different sides. This narrative strategy supports the idea that resolving conflict requires not just evidence, but also the integration of subjective experiences and perspectives.
5. Transformation and Peacebuilding. Themes of transformation—both personal and societal—are central in German literature. Works frequently depict the journey from conflict to reconciliation, emphasizing the possibility of change through understanding, evidence, and dialogue. This reflects the German peacebuilding approach, which seeks to address root causes and foster sustainable solutions.
Atticus Finch
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The novel centers on the trial of Tom Robinson, an African American man falsely accused of rape. Atticus Finch, acting as his defense attorney, embodies the judge-like approach: he carefully examines objective evidence (or the lack thereof) and cross-examines subjective witness testimony in court. The narrative shows how American justice seeks to balance hard facts with personal accounts, and how the process of judgment is shaped by both.
Twelve Angry Men
Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose: This classic play (and its film adaptation) focuses on a jury deliberating the fate of a young defendant. The jurors must sift through the facts of the case and the credibility of witness statements, debating until they reach a unanimous verdict. The story is a direct metaphor for the American conflict resolution style: careful, collective weighing of evidence and testimony before rendering judgment.
Comments:
“I love this movie. No explosions, no gun or fist fights, just human emotions and drama. And some of the finest actors in the business!”
“I love how humane the characters are. We don’t even know their names! They just all constantly give us the various aspects of ourselves, as a species.”
“Cobb’s reaction at the end is beyond powerful. He rips up the picture and then reacts in horror, as though it’s something he can’t undo. That is to say that symbolically, the ripping up of the picture really does mean the end of his relationship with his son, with no possibility of repairing that fracture. In much the same way condemning the boy on trial to death is irreparable.”
“My very favorite part of the movie is when the guy says, “I’ll kill him I’ll kill him!” then he responds, ‘You don’t really mean you’ll kill me do you?'”
“I always wished that we could see the look on the defendant’s face when he heard “not guilty”. He looked so hopeless at the beginning.”
The Broken Jug
Heinrich von Kleist – Der zerbrochne Krug (The Broken Jug, 1808). This classic play centers on a village court case in which a judge must determine who broke a jug belonging to a local woman. The entire plot revolves around the careful reconstruction of events, examination of evidence, and the search for truth through witness testimony and logical deduction. The play is a brilliant satire of the judicial process, but at its core, it exemplifies the German logic of conflict resolution: reconstructing causes, scrutinizing evidence, and striving for objective truth, even as human flaws complicate the process.
Salem witches
The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Set during the Salem witch trials, the play dramatizes how accusations and personal testimonies can override objective evidence. Judges in the play struggle to distinguish truth from hysteria, weighing conflicting testimonies and scant evidence. The play critiques and exemplifies the American tradition of judicial inquiry, showing both its strengths and its dangers when subjective testimony overwhelms objective fact.
Inspector Bärlach
Friedrich Dürrenmatt – Der Richter und sein Henker (The Judge and His Hangman, 1950). This crime novel follows Inspector Bärlach as he investigates the murder of a police officer. The story is a masterclass in methodical investigation, weighing of evidence, and unraveling of motives and circumstances. Dürrenmatt’s work reflects the German tradition of meticulously reconstructing events and motives to reach a just resolution.
Katharina Blum
Heinrich Böll – Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum (The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum, 1974). This novel tells the story of a woman’s life being destroyed by tabloid journalism and public suspicion. The narrative is structured as a quasi-investigative report, presenting evidence, testimonies, and different perspectives to reconstruct the truth behind the scandal. Böll’s novel is a critique of media sensationalism but also a literary experiment in objective reporting and evidence-based narrative, mirroring the German mediator’s analytical approach.
Maria Stuart
Friedrich Schiller – Maria Stuart (Mary Stuart, 1800). This historical drama reconstructs the final days of Mary, Queen of Scots, focusing on the legal and moral evidence that leads to her execution. Schiller’s play is a profound meditation on justice, evidence, and the interplay of personal motives and political necessity—central concerns in German approaches to conflict and resolution.