Die vorexilische Prosa Paul Zechs, idealismus und realität im konflikt

Abstract

This dissertation examines the pre-exile prose of the German Expressionist author Paul Zech to determine whether the social ideals of Expressionism (universal brotherhood, love, solidarity) are realistic and viable or merely an illusion.

Although Zech's pre-exile prose distinctly shows his hope for a future society based on the above ideals, a marked discrepancy between the idealistic expectations of the author and the social reality that the texts themselves portray also emerges. Multiple voices result in many different perspectives, thereby interfering with the idealistic voice of the author. In the end, reality's harshness often destroys Zech's vision.

As a consequence, many of Zech's pre-exile works of prose end tragically. The texts reveal a society rife with alienation, loneliness and cruelty where the hopes and dreams of the characters seldom materialize. Although a few examples do show Zech's idealism triumphant and dominant, these qualify as exceptions. The author's idealism must consistently surrender to extremely negative social forces.

This study also considers Paul Zech's pre-exile prose as a literary configuration of actual socioeconomic conditions: many parallels can be drawn between the events portrayed in the texts and the social conditions of the late 19th and early 20th century Germany. This does not imply that the works represent ultra-realistic documentation, but that they are based on realistic occurrences and not merely on the Expressionistic ideals of universality and community.

Since the nucleus of Paul Zech's pre-exile prose is generally based on realistic social problems, his idealistic hope for a reformed society free from social tension and injustice proves problematic. In the presence of social reality, Zech's ideals often fail to function.