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Chapter 21
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
The next morning, the Blornas see Katharina’s name and photograph on the front page of the News. The story describes her as the “outlaw’s sweetheart” and accuses her of helping Götten flee the police. The journalist has also twisted Dr. Blorna’s comment about Katharina being “cool, intelligent, and level-headed,” describing her instead as “ice-cold and calculating.”
The press’s portrayal of Blorna’s words is disingenuous and intentionally misleading. It’s clear that the press, like Beizmenne and most of the other investigators, have no interest in giving Katharina the presumption of innocence. Instead, they abuse their positions of power to defame her character, crafting a narrative that portrays her as an ”ice-cold and calculating” criminal.
Active
Themes
The Blornas decide to cut their vacation short to be with Katharina. At the airport, Dr. Blorna reconstructs the events of that day. Lüding called him, urging him to get in touch with Alois Sträubleder, a conservative politician whom Blorna represents. Blorna does so, and a concerned Alois asks Blorna to represent him in “a very delicate matter.” Katharina also calls Blorna to ask if he really described her the way the newspaper article said. Blorna insists he didn’t, and Katharina believes him: she knows how those journalists work.
Active
Themes
