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Chapter 22
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
Katharina is on the front page of Saturday’s paper, too. The News headline reads: “MURDERER’S MOLL WON’T TALK,” and the story claims that Katharina is covering for Götten. Dr. Blorna appears in the story, too, described as Katharina’s attorney. The Blornas arrive home to a telegram from Alois, who expresses his disappointment in Dr. Blorna for “letting [him] down.” Mrs. Blorna reads the story and laments that Katharina’s life will never be the same again: if the police don’t get to her, the News will. The story apparently contacted Katharina’s ex-husband, who suggests that Katharina must’ve divorced him to be with Götten. He insinuates that Katharina left him because she knew an honest man wouldn’t be able to fund the lavish lifestyle she desired.
Nobody has confirmed that Katharina knew Götten prior to the night of Miss Woltersheim’s party, and yet the News’s headline suggests that she’s his “moll,” a derogatory slang term for a gangster’s girlfriend, and one that indicates (especially in this context) that she is involved on Götten’s criminal activities. Nevertheless, the News goes forward with an aggressive public assault on Katharina’s character, making baseless accusations that surely will have lasting consequences on her personal and private life.
Active
Themes
The article also quotes Berthold Hiepertz, the retired high school principal for whom Katharina used to work. Hiepertz describes Katharina as a “radical.” (When Dr. Blorna calls Hiepertz to ask about this, Hiepertz claims he only called her radically helpful and smart.)
Active
Themes
