Die Nachkriegszeit in Joseph Roths „Hotel Savoy“

Kompolšek, Andraž (author), Lughofer, Johann Georg (mentor)

Kot je že znano, je bila prva svetovna vojna ena največjih vojn v zgodovini človeštva. Terjala je mnogo življenj, hkrati pa povzročila ogromne ekonomske izgube. Postavila je temelje bede naslednjega obdobja. Povojni čas je bil v centralni Evropi čas pomanjkanja, bolezni, smrti, stradanja, brezdelja, temačnosti, depresije, revščine in bogatenja elite. Knjiga z naslovom Hotel Savoy predstavlja izgubljeno cono udobja, kjer se udomačijo pribežniki iz vojne in ujetništva, hkrati pa tudi tisti, ki niso imeli denarja za lastno prebivališče v mestu. Tu se kaže nekakšna anarhija hotela Savoy. Premožnejši ljudje živijo v nižjih nadstropjih, medtem ko revnejši živijo v višjih. Sama problematika tega časa je prikazana skozi oči glavnega lika, Gabriela Dana. Spremljamo ga po poti iz ujetništva vse do premožnega dela pri fabrikantu Bloomfieldu in ob tem spoznamo grozote takratnega časa. Vračanje v domovino oziroma potovanje domov ima na roman Hotel Savoy močan vpliv. Ta se kaže predvsem pri Gabrielu in gospodu Bloomfieldu. Gre za osebi različnih stanov in različnih miselnosti, a ju združuje ljubezen do svoje družine, porekla in domovine. Izvir tega je pisateljeva ljubezen do Avstro-Ogrske monarhije, ki je po vojni ni bilo več. To so bili za mnoge, ki so bili narodno zavedni, težki časi, saj so bili izgubljeni v svetu, brez domovine, prepuščeni sami sebi in so čakali na pomoč višjih sil. To višjo silo naj bi predstavljale ZDA. Začaran krog pripadnosti in sovraštva zoper ZDA ali gospoda Bloomfielda pokaže neko večjo sliko tistega časa. Navidezna pomoč ZDA Evropi oziroma mestecu, kjer se zgodba odvija, daje neko lažno upanje ljudem, ki pričakujejo odrešitev vseh stisk, ki so jim priča. Ko pride čas novih napetosti, ta višja sila odpove in svojo pomoč hitro preusmeri nazaj, od koder je prišla. Elita tega mesta odide takoj, ko se prične revolucija, in tako je mesto prepuščeno samemu sebi. Velika revolucija je nekakšen znak osamosvojitve ljudstva, ki pa z velikim številom žrtev in materialno izgubo ne doseže nikakršne spremembe v njihovih življenjih, le nek dogodek in poslabšanje dejanskega stanja.

• Language: German
• Keywords: povojni čas, Hotel Savoy, revolucija, pomanjkanje, ZDA.
• Work type: Bachelor thesis/paper
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Year: 2020
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-117314
• Publication date in RUL: 05.07.2020

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: The Post War Time in Joseph Roth’s “Hotel Savoy”

Abstract

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.

• Keywords: Post-war, Hotel Savoy, Revolution, Famine, USA.