As it is known, the First World War was one of the greatest wars in human history. It claimed many lives, enormous economic losses, and laid the foundation for the misery of the next period. The post-war period in Central Europe is a time of scarcity, disease and death, starvation, idleness, darkness, depression, poverty and the enrichment of the elite.
Hotel Savoy represents a lost comfort zone, where refugees from war and captivity, as well as those who did not have the money for their own residence in the city, find themselves. It shows some kind of anarchy of the Savoy Hotel. The wealthier live on the lower floors and the poorer ones live on the higher floors. The problems of the time show itself through the eyes of Gabriel Dan the main character of this work. His arduous journey from captivity all the way to the wealthy work by the manufacturer Bloomfield, which quickly passes, shows a fascinating picture of that time.
Returning home or traveling home has a strong influence in this novel. This is strongly reflected in Gabriel and Mr. Bloomfield. Two men from different backgrounds, different mindsets, united by love for their family, origin, and homeland. This stems mainly from the writer’s love for the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, which was gone temporarily at the end of the war. Those were difficult times for many who were nationally conscious, as they were lost in the world, left to their own homelessness and waiting for the help of some higher power. This higher power is supposed to be represented by the US. The vicious circle of belonging and hatred against the US or Mr. Bloomfield shows a bigger picture of that time. The apparent help of the USA to Europe or the town where the story takes place gives some false hope to the people who are waiting for the salvation of all the torments that befall them. When the time for new tensions comes, this higher force fails and quickly redirects its help back to where it came from. Even the elite of this city, as soon as the revolution begins, disappears and leaves the city to itself. The great revolution is a kind of sign of the independence of the people but leaves them with many sacrifices and material losses and it does not achieve any change in their lives, only an event and a deterioration of the actual situation.
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