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Chapter 19
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Ethics in Journalism
Truth, Lies, and Narrative
Class, Hierarchy, and Exploitation
Dignity and Compassion
Summary
Analysis
Moeding, who drove Katharina home, later tells Beizmenne that he’s worried that the young woman might do something desperate—she seems really upset over the ongoing investigation. Ironically, though, she also seems to have developed a sense of humor: on the drive back, Moeding explains, he joked that it might be nice for the two of them to go out for dancing and drinks. She laughed and agreed. When they arrived at her apartment and he offered to escort her upstairs, she declined and then jokingly suggested that she clearly has enough gentleman callers.
Moeding’s apparent concern for Katharina’s well-being sets him apart from his colleagues and from the press: unlike them, he treats her with empathy and respect. He considers her a person in her own right, not just the object of scrutiny. And in return, Katharina shows him a personable and funny side of her personality—one she keeps hidden from the other investigators and officers, whose harsh and judgmental attitude toward her prevents her from letting her guard down.
Active
Themes
Moeding tries to convince Beizmenne that Katharina should be brought into police custody for her own protection—he doesn’t believe in Beizmenne’s theory that Katharina is involved in some major conspiracy with Götten. Beizmenne refuses, though, and accuses Götten of being in love with Beizmenne. He later finds out that Moeding gave Katharina two pieces of advice before dropping her off at her apartment that night: not to use her telephone, and not to “look at the news” the next morning. It’s unclear whether Moeding meant all news, or just the News.
Active
Themes
