Berlin Alexanderplatz: The Story of Franz Biberkopf: Analysis of Major Characters
"Berlin Alexanderplatz: The Story of Franz Biberkopf" narrates the tumultuous life of Franz Biberkopf, an unskilled laborer and former convict, as he seeks redemption and stability after serving time for the manslaughter of his fiancée, Ida. Biberkopf's struggle to redefine himself is complicated by his past and the influences of those around him, including significant characters such as Mieze, a young prostitute he falls in love with, and Eva, his former lover who still holds feelings for him. The narrative explores themes of crime, violence, and the search for meaning in a chaotic urban environment.
Key characters include Reinhold, a morally ambiguous figure who manipulates Biberkopf and ultimately betrays him, and Herbert Wischow, a pimp who helps Biberkopf during his recovery. The story also features Karl Matter, a tinsmith entangled in the underworld of crime, and Polish Lina, Biberkopf's first romantic interest post-incarceration. As Biberkopf navigates the challenges of his new life, he grapples with guilt, love, and his connection to a world rife with crime, ultimately reflecting the broader societal issues of 1920s Berlin. This complex tale delves into the human condition and the enduring quest for redemption amid adversity.
Berlin Alexanderplatz: The Story of Franz Biberkopf: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Alfred Döblin
First published: Berlin Alexanderplatz: Die Geschichte vom Franz Biberkopf, 1929 (Alexanderplatz, Berlin, 1931 (in English); best known as Berlin Alexanderplatz)
Genre: Novel
Locale: Berlin
Plot: Social realism
Time: Autumn, 1927, to spring, 1929
Franz Biberkopf (BIH-behr-kopf), an unskilled laborer and convicted criminal. Approximately thirty years old and of stocky build, Biberkopf has been a cement worker, furniture mover, tie-pin hawker, newspaper vendor, notions peddler, burglar, fence, pimp, and assistant doorkeeper. After his release from Tegel prison, where he spent four years for the involuntary killing of Ida, his fiancée, Biberkopf is at a loss as to what to do with his life and suffers from a sense of disorientation. He resolves to begin a new life as an honorable man, but he finds that after four years in prison, his real punishment is yet to come. Ida, whom he killed in a fit of jealous rage, had a sister, Minna, who is married to Karl, a locksmith. Franz is drawn to the place of his crime. He visits Minna and, on an impulse, rapes her. As a criminal convicted of a violent crime, Biberkopf receives official notice of his imminent expulsion from Berlin. the prison welfare association, however, intervenes, and he is allowed to remain in the city. He manages to stay on the path of blamelessness and earn his livelihood peddling notions, though he spends his evenings in the bars around Alexander Square in the city's center, a slum with high rates of crime. He soon becomes involved in racketeering.
Mieze (MEE-tseh), whose real name is Emilie Parsunke (pahr-ZEWN-keh) and who is also called Sonia. She is an attractive prostitute under twenty years of age. Eva introduces her to Franz Biberkopf, and she becomes his third mistress after his release from Tegel prison. Mieze has a gentleman friend of means, and Biberkopf becomes her pimp. Mieze and Eva are friends and, to make Biberkopf happy, she suggests to Eva that Eva bear him a child, because of Eva's continued feelings for Franz. Eventually, Eva has a miscarriage. Biberkopf and Mieze are in love; after her murder by Reinhold, Biberkopf loses his inhibitions concerning him and seeks to avenge her murder.
Eva (AY-vah), whose real name is Emilie, a prostitute and the lover of Herbert Wischow, her pimp. Eva was in love with Biberkopf before his imprisonment and still is after his release. She and Herbert are instrumental in sending Biberkopf to a private hospital outside the city (in Magdeburg) after he is pushed from a car by Reinhold and in seeing to it that no awkward questions are asked about his crushed arm. Eva and Herbert pay for Biberkopf's recovery in their apartment, and Eva nurses him back to health. She sets him up as Mieze's pimp. Eva is expecting a child by Franz but has a miscarriage. When Franz is sought by the police, she hides him in her up-town apartment in the borough of Wilmersdorf.
Reinhold (RIN-hohlt), a member of Herr Pums's gang of burglars, a man in his thirties. Seemingly sickly (he is hollow-cheeked and has a “yellow face”), he stutters and wears a shabby army coat. Because of Reinhold's friendliness toward Biberkopf and Biberkopf's fascination with Reinhold's views on politics and life, he succeeds in involving Biberkopf in his affairs with women. Biberkopf shares the girlfriends of whom Reinhold has tired in exchange for certain gifts. Because Biberkopf protests his innocence and was not a willing member of the gang, he is pushed by Reinhold from a moving car. Reinhold therefore is responsible for crippling Biberkopf, who loses his right arm. Reinhold betrays Biberkopf a second time when he falsely accuses him of having helped him murder Mieze. Reinhold is tried and convicted, but because of mitigating circumstances, he is sentenced to only ten years in prison.
Herbert Wischow (VIH-show), a pimp and petty thief. He and Biberkopf were friends before the imprisonment of the latter. Herbert and Eva help Franz get medical attention and recuperate. Eventually, Wischow is arrested and sentenced to two years in prison for a number of property crimes.
Karl Matter, a tinsmith and member of Pums's gang. He has a falling out with Pums over profits and is befriended by Mieze. He is implicated in her murder because he and Reinhold had taken her on an excursion to Freienwalde. Eventually, he and the “wheelwright” commit their own burglaries and thus become independent. Karl informs on Reinhold once he establishes that he will not be prosecuted for his role in Mieze's murder. Karl and the “wheelwright” are caught and sent to prison.
Lina Przyballa (LEE-nah priht-sih-BAHL-lah), called Polish Lina, Biberkopf's first girlfriend after his release from prison. She came from Czernowitz, and her father, Stanislaus, was a farmer. She had two miscarriages.
Otto Lüders (LEW-dehrz), Lina's uncle, who peddles shoelaces. He rapes and robs a young widow whom Biberkopf had befriended.
Gottlieb Meck (GOT-leeb), a member of the cattle dealers' association and Biberkopf's friend. He tries to get Biberkopf a job.
Herr Pums (pewmz), the leader of the burglary gang that Biberkopf joins. He and Biberkopf meet in a bar.
Cilly (SIH-lee), Biberkopf's second girlfriend after his release from Tegel, one of Reinhold's former mistresses. She returns to Reinhold when she is pressured by him to abandon Biberkopf.
Willy (VIH-lee), a former convict and a pickpocket. He meets Biberkopf in a bar and takes him to political meetings. Willy is described as young and cocky.