AN EXAMPLE OF EXPRESSIONIST CRITICISM: DER UNTERTAN / DIŞA VURUMCU BİR ELEŞTİRİ ÖRNEĞİ: DER UNTERTAN

Abstract

Expressionism, which emerged in the early 20th century, has strongly opposed the formation of militarism, capitalism, mechanization and industrialization, which cause human alienation. The writers of this period also criticized in their works the social problems and them who were responsible. Heinrich Mann is also one of the writers who have produced expressionist works. It is known that Mann criticized the German Empire in his trio of Die Armen (The Poor), Der Kopf (The Chief) and Der Untertan (The Loyal Subject). In Der Untertan, which is subject to this study, the period of Kaiser Wilhelm II was handled and the negative aspects of the period and the way of administration were ironically criticized through the main character of the work. The Heβling character, who admired Kaiser Wilhelm II and imitated him, turned in time to a Wilhelm II parodic. Thus Kaiser Wilhelm’s II attitude was handled widely in the work as an authoritarian and almost dictator. In the study, firstly Expressionism and the details of the period of Kaiser Wilhelm II were explained. After that, it’s shown with examples from the work how Mann criticized Kaiser Wilhelm II through his main character and in which ways the main character was trying to imitate himself Kaiser Wilhelm II

Keywords

• Expressionism
• Heinrich Mann
• Der Untertan