Doris makes a point to disregard men (and her reliance on them) whilst still using them for her own advantage. In this novel, Doris characterizes two rather contradictory versions of the “modern woman”-as defined by 1930s Germany. Though glamour is certainly alluring, it can also come at a great cost. Doris’ story shows that glamour is a fickle idea, one that can cause great personal loss if it becomes an obsession. 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. 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. Doris’ materialistic behaviors and efforts soon leave her poor and struggling to find food.
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. 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. 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. In this novel, Doris views Berlin as the epitome of glamour-as the ultimate hotbed of all that is beautiful and desirable. 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. This, in fact, is one of Doris’ primary ambitions throughout the novel-to purchase and consume her way to success and prosperity.
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. The entire novel is defined by the consumeristic lifestyle that defined and infiltrated German life before Nazism. 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. Written by people who wish to remain anonymous We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.
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