Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Goodbye to Berlin, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Friendship
Storytelling
Antisemitism in Germany
Money as Security
Decadence
Summary
Analysis
Christopher recalls watching a Nazi demonstration one night in October of 1930. The Nazis carried out a violent demonstration in front of Jewish-owned department stores. Christopher remembers this as his introduction to Berlin politics. One of the stores belongs to the Landauers, a Jewish family with whom Christopher has mutual friends. Inspired by this incident, Christopher writes to Frau Landauer.
When Christopher witnesses the antisemitic demonstration so soon after he arrives in Berlin, he becomes aware of the rampant antisemitism present in German society. His choice to write to the Jewish Frau Landauer demonstrates his solidarity against antisemitism, though he tends to be merely a political observer.
Themes
Frau Landauer invites Christopher to supper, where he meets the 18-year-old Natalia Landauer. The two strike up a friendship, and she lends him books to read. He eats with Frau Landauer and Natalia. Afterward, he spends more time with Natalia, who asks about his writing. He reluctantly tells her about one of his stories, and she insists he bring it the next time.
Natalia Landauer is clearly a bright young woman who Christopher connects with on an intellectual level. His reluctance to talk about his writing hints at an insecurity about himself as an artist.
Themes
Two weeks later, Christopher visits the Landauers again for dinner. Afterward, he and Natalia go to the cinema and see a comedy film. Natalia gets angry with him because he does not laugh during the film—she accuses him of only enjoying “clever” films. However, he tells her that he never laughs, even when he finds something funny. As they sit in a café after the movie, Natalia tells Christopher how much she respects and adores her parents. However, though her parents are rich, she feels that, given the political situation in Germany, this money could disappear at any time. In light of this, she wishes to move to France to find a husband and make her own way in life.
Though Christopher claims he never laughs, Natalia perceives his stoic observation as pretension. His lack of laughter in the movie theater contrasts with his relationship with Sally, when the two would laugh and laugh together. Natalia’s anxieties about her parents’ finances despite her father’s obvious business capability illustrates how deeply antisemitism was ingrained in German society: though the Landauers are very wealthy, Natalia can never feel certain that that wealth will remain.
Themes
Christopher and Natalia continue to spend time together. He notices that she avoids physical contact with him, even when indirect. For example, when he offers her a spoon with which he stirred coffee he already sipped, she is disgusted. One night, Natalia invites Christopher to a classical music concert. Feeling frustrated with the stuffiness of the concert’s environment, he picks a fight with her on the way home. He says that as he likes the sound of her voice but doesn’t care about the things she says, they would be better off conversing in animal sounds.
Natalia’s apparent disgust with Christopher is a resistance to society’s prejudices: while much of German society at the time would look down on (or worse) Natalia, a Jewish woman, she looks down on Christopher, a white Englishman. Similarly to his friendship with Sally, when Christopher gets frustrated with Natalia, he shows a petty side of himself. His frustration indicates that he is comfortable with Natalia and acts out within that comfortable space of their friendship.
Themes
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A few days later, Natalia asks Christopher to lunch. All is forgiven. Natalia is ecstatic because her father, Herr Landauer, will be returning from his travels. Christopher eats lunch with Frau Landauer, Herr Landauer, Natalia, and Bernhard Landauer, Natalia’s cousin. Herr Landauer’s kindness, intelligence, and good nature impress Christopher. During lunch, Natalia presses Christopher to talk about his writing, during which the Landauers (and the reader) learn that his first novel only sold five copies. After lunch, Bernhard invites Christopher to call on him sometime. Natalia tells Christopher that this is unusual, as Bernhard enjoys his solitude. She warns him about Bernhard’s sarcasm.
Christopher’s respect for Herr Landauer’s good qualities reflect the idea that, in order to succeed and be respected in a prejudiced society, minorities must project excellence. While the other older characters in the novel tend to be bumbling and prejudiced, Herr Landauer is kind and intelligent. The reveal that Christopher’s first novel had only sold five copies sheds light on his history as an artist, especially driven to succeed due to his lack of previous success.
Themes
A little while later, Christopher calls on Bernhard. He notes the quietness of Bernhard’s apartment. Bernhard welcomes Christopher and shows him his possessions from his travels abroad. They dine together and get to know each other, though Christopher heeds Natalia’s warning and does not go into detail about his own life.
Bernhard’s fascination with travel abroad underscores his lack of security as a Jewish man in Germany, despite his wealth. His solitude also hints at this lack of security, betraying a desire to remove himself from a dangerous society.
Themes
One day, Christopher visits Bernhard at the Landauer department store, which he runs. After Christopher waits in a luxurious waiting room, Bernhard shows him around the various departments (including the toy department, where Herr Landauer will not allow war-related toys to be sold) and explains some of their sale tactics. When Christopher asks why the store does not have a book department, Bernhard tells him that he would remain there all day, reading.
Christopher’s visit to the Landauer department store further enlightens the reader to the Landauers’ wealth and business prowess. Furthermore, the fact that Herr Landauer will not allow war-related toys in the store presents his strong political stance, no doubt influenced by a contempt for the war-like nature of the antisemitic Nazi party in Germany.
Themes
Bernhard and Christopher continue to spend time together. Christopher becomes frustrated with the feeling that Bernhard does not seem to tell him his true thoughts and feelings. One day, when Christopher asks Bernhard what he truly believes in, he says he believes in discipline (for himself, not others). He says that Christopher, having been raised as a Christian in England, cannot understand what it is like to be a Jew in Germany.
From the little emotion and truth that Bernhard does show to Christopher, it is clear that the experience of growing up Jewish in Germany has caused him to hide parts of himself away. His belief in discipline reflects that, as he finds comfort in self-imposed limits that also keep him safe. This belief in discipline stands in sharp contrast to the nearly apolitical reverence for decadence that other, non-Jewish characters show throughout the novel.
Themes
Having developed their friendship, Christopher decides to introduce Natalia to Sally Bowles at a café. However, the interaction goes awry when Sally makes an antisemitic comment—presumably, she does not know that Natalia is Jewish—and talks on and on about her lovers. Natalia becomes frustrated and leaves. After they leave the café, Christopher is upset with Sally. He asks her if she always has to talk about adultery, and she responds that she must be her authentic self.
Sally’s insensitive antisemitic comment highlights an unflattering aspect of her personality: while Sally largely lives outside of conventional, conservative life, her lack of a political stance shows the decadence of the Berlin art and nightlife scene in a harsh light. So focused on her own search for pleasure and success, she does not consider how her privileged words and actions may affect those around her.
Themes
After their coffee with Sally, Christopher feels his relationship with Natalia begin to fade. Natalia assumes that Sally is his lover, and he does not correct her. Christopher suspects that, aside from Natalia’s general dislike of Sally, Natalia is jealous of Sally’s importance in his life. One day, in February, Christopher calls on Natalia to hear that she had moved abroad.
Though Sally acted inappropriately and (unknowingly) showed prejudice toward Natalia, Christopher does not do anything to rectify this. His refusal to stand up against antisemitism and act as an active ally to Natalia, beyond simply being her friend, results in the dissolution of their friendship. Thus, Christopher’s largely apolitical stance has consequences for himself and those around him.
Themes
One day, out of the blue, Bernhard calls Christopher to ask if he would like to spend the night in the country. He picks Christopher up in a chauffeur and they stop to pick up Bernhard’s dog. Bernhard will not tell Christopher where they are going, as he says it will take the pleasure out of it for Christopher. After the drive, they arrive at a luxurious mansion designed to resemble an English country house. They have dinner and walk around the grounds. Bernhard tells Christopher about his childhood. His older brother died in World War I, and he struggled to make friends growing up. As a result of his brother’s death, his mother threw herself into studying Judaism in an attempt to distance herself from Germany. Eventually, she killed herself.
In being able to pick up Christopher in a chauffeur and take him to a luxurious location, Bernhard exercises the power over Christopher that their financial imbalance affords him. The fact that the house is designed to resemble an English mansion highlights money’s power to help its wielders assimilate into the dominant, possibly oppressive, culture. Bernhard’s tragic past, and its connection to Judaism, provides insight into his character’s desire to recede into himself.
Themes
Christopher and Bernhard go back inside. After an exchange about which lights to turn on, Bernhard tells Christopher that he brought him to the cottage as an experiment: Bernhard wished to find out whether he is able to open up emotionally to people. Christopher tells Bernhard that, though he is glad to know more about him, he finds his experiments unfair as they put him in a position to make Bernhard angry if they fail. After their discussion, they listen to the radio and go to bed. The next day, Bernhard drops Christopher off in Berlin and says he will call soon.
Rather than simply carry out a friendship, Bernhard feels that he must isolate Christopher to conduct an “experiment” to see if he is capable of being vulnerable with another person. This speaks to Bernhard’s trauma, but it also highlights the novel’s broader examination of the complexity of all relationships, not just romantic ones.
Themes
The next time Bernhard calls is six months later. He invites Christopher to visit the country house again. As Christopher has an infected toe, he wears a brace. When he arrives, Christopher is surprised to find the lawn full of people. As Christopher did not know there would be a party, he is underdressed. Despite his annoyance, Christopher resolves to enjoy himself. He sees Natalia, looking more beautiful and acting more relaxed. She asks why he did not write, and he says that he never received a letter from her with her address, though she sent one. She tells him that she lives in a flat with her mother in Paris and is studying art. Christopher can tell from her demeanor that she must be in love.
The elaborate party at the Landauer country house reminds the reader how well connected and wealthy they are in spite of the antisemitism that plagued Germany. Still, it is significant that Natalia has developed a newfound easygoing nature outside of the confines of German society. Whereas she was previously anxious, now, having left the tension of Berlin and presumedly found love in France, she seems like a more relaxed and happier version of herself.
Themes
The party continues, though Christopher notes that it never really came together. That day, the German government was voting on a referendum to decide which party will be in power, and Christopher notices many people whispering about politics. Christopher remarks that the party could be the last night of life as they know it. Eventually, toward the end of the night, someone calls Berlin and gets the news that the Communist party will not take over.
The threat of communism in Germany brings to light the complexities of German politics. While the Nazi party was violently antisemitic, they were also anticommunist. For the Landauers, who are Jewish and business titans, the most radical opposition to the Nazi party, the communist party, would also not be ideal.
Themes
Eight months later, after his time living with the Nowaks, Christopher goes to see Bernhard. He tells him about life with the Nowaks. Bernhard shows him an antisemitic threat letter that he received. Though Christopher is astonished, Bernhard tells him that it happens all the time. Bernhard also tells him that Natalia is married to a French doctor. When Christopher tries to talk with Bernhard about politics, Bernhard tells him that he does not care—he feels out of touch with his own existence. Christopher tells Bernhard that he will be going back to England for the summer but will return to Berlin. Bernhard offers to take them both on a travel around the world, and Christopher goes along with it, believing it to be a joke. However, months later, after he has said his final goodbye to Bernhard, Christopher realizes that Bernhard’s offer was serious.
Christopher’s shock at the antisemitic threat letter hints at the fact that, though he may be aware of the political landscape of Germany, he does not truly understand the extent and danger of antisemitism at the time. Bernhard, by contrast, has become completely desensitized to it and, further, depressed and detached from politics itself. Bernhard’s offer to take Christopher travelling calls back to Clive’s similar offer. However, Christopher’s realization that Bernhard was serious about traveling indicates that Bernhard, however strange, was more of a true friend than Clive ever was.
Themes
When Christopher returns to Berlin in the fall of 1932, he learns that Bernhard is away on business. He is not persistent with trying to contact him. After Hitler becomes chancellor in 1933, Christopher tries to contact Bernhard but has no luck. One day, he goes to Bernhard’s apartment. The caretaker tells him only that Bernhard has gone away. On a day when Germans boycotted Jewish businesses, Christopher goes into the Landauer store and buys something in defiance.
As time passes, the antisemitism in Germany becomes more intense and overt. Bernhard’s absence after the election of Hitler highlights the danger that Hitler’s regime poses to him.
Themes
A few months later, in May, Christopher leaves Berlin for good. At a restaurant in Prague, he hears two men talking about the Landauer family. Christopher learns that Bernhard is dead. Though the papers say that he died of heart failure, the men believe he was murdered by the Nazis in a labor camp. The men express their dislike for Hitler’s policy, saying it’s bad for business. They predict that Herr Landauer will be fine, as they believe that he has money hidden away somewhere. “You can’t keep a Jew down,” one of the men says.
As the rising extremism in Berlin causes many Jewish people to leave, it also marks the end of an era for Christopher and his fellow artist expats. Even after the tragic news of Bernhard’s death, the men Christopher overhears in the coffee shop do not truly believe that Hitler’s antisemitic policy will affect the Jews on a large scale. This speaks to the denial of society about the reality of Hitler’s antisemitic policies.
Themes
