"Ach Kinder" : zur Rolle des Kindes und der Familie im Werk Hans Falladas

Sammanfattning: This study primarily investigates the role of children in regard to the plot as well as to the characterization of adults in six novels by Hans Fallada. Discussed is furthermore Fallada's position as an author within the literary epoch of the "Neue Sachlichkeit", especially regarding his narrative technique that includes a dominating use of dialogue and a covert narrator. Due to the fact that Fallada's first successful novels, written in the early thirties, reflect the contemporary German society not excluding its social problems, the critics for a long time regarded the author as a critical observer of society, thereby disregarding other aspects of his work, such as the characters and their individual conflicts. These aspects were not seriously taken into consideration by the critics until the sixties.The appointed texts are dealt with chronologically, thus facing the role of children from various angles and thereby concerning themes such as the marital relationship, the animosity between generations and conflicts aroused by the pubescent child. An unborn child as well as the longing for or the loss of children are all matters that noticeably influence the plot and the characterization of adults in these texts.By investigating the role of children in these novels I will show, that in Fallada's texts there is a power leading towards the sheltering family and also that this power is combined with heavy demands upon ethics.