In The Garden Of Beast Analysis

Introduction

This essay reviews ‘In the garden of Beasts’, by Eric Larsson. After an introduction, this review begins by giving a basic summary of the book then discusses some of the central ideas and themes found therein. The third section offers some critical analysis as to the structure, character development, writing style, prose, engagement with the reader, and ability to create a compelling realistic environment given the chosen setting. The final section concludes.

Central Idea (Thesis), (Summation)

There are many interesting themes in this work of historical fiction. It sheds light upon a foreboding pre-world war II Germany in which Hitler has begun to ratchet up anti-Semitic propaganda and discrimination. The following provides a

summary and then a discussion of themes.
Running from 1933-1937 this book centers on the family of William E. Dodd, including his wife, his flirtatious daughter Martha and his little-motivated son, who move to Germany after President Roosevelt asks Mr. Dodd to take up a position in Berlin as the leading US diplomat. In order to comply, he leaves his post as a professor of history at the University of Chicago and temporarily abandons what the author tries to impress upon the reader as his potentially great contribution to American history, a book of history about the old south. He believes this to be his life’s work, though he has a much more important role in history to play.
In a sign of the different cultural times, rather than forge their own path in the US, the children of the family jump at the chance to spend time with their parents, and are eager to live with them in Berlin. Having attended University in Germany as a young man, Dodd is familiar with the culture and the language. He hopes that the post will be a quiet one. He is described as a stern and ordinary man who takes his duties seriously but is not particularly inventive in his carrying them out. Of the historical accounts given about him, few are altogether positive. Upon his arrival in Berlin he is immediately confronted with the expectation that an official at his level of government is expected to have great wealth, which does not represent his background. Despite his professional success, bringing him into the realm of middle to high income families, he can’t match the expectations of lavish parties and an expansive servant staff. Arrogance in his new social circles is a recurring theme, and it is to be differentiated from honest compelling discourse about the ongoing circumstances.
As Germany becomes increasingly racist and persecutory, the Dodd family’s experiences are more and more appalling (Maslin, 2011).

They witness the ransacking of Jewish businesses, increasingly anti-Semitic laws, and the surreal atmosphere of a proud ‘new Germany’ as its young Nazi troops gradually devolve into decadence. In such circumstances some individuals are charged with making great moral decisions. While a number of characters escape their duties for the third Reich, it seems that the vast majority of citizens are all too eager to be complicit in these shocking crimes against Jews. It seems that, as is often the case, any text about the Holocaust has as part of its theme the notion that humanity is capable of indescribably evil acts, and can become extremely dangerous when its willing to follow the dictates of authority figures

unthinkingly.
Among the core themes in the text is a recurring sense of perdition or dystopia, duty and steadfastness in the face of evil, a grey moral compass on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as love and intrigue under dangerous circumstances. Combined, these make for an interesting read. The following section discusses the text in more detail from a critical standpoint.
Critical Analysis
As for providing an analysis of the text, it seems that Larsson does a proficient job of setting the scene. He is a thorough researcher, given the many different correspondences that are provided, as well as the many direct quotes of characters that must have taken careful research to gather and to organize. Though there are many accounts of the Holocaust, this one is somewhat unique in that it provides a new angle of a family in the middle of the chaos. This makes for a fresh perspective of a series of historical events that have been addressed again and again by other sources.
At heart, this book interesting not just because of its account of the developments in Germany, but also many of the American characters who are depicted as less than moral figures.

A key early message of the text reminds the reader that America was not wholly sympathetic to the plight of the Jews. This is of great importance to acknowledge in keeping the historical record straight, rather than whitewashing the role of the American side and depicting them as heroes. Anti-Semitism was common in the US among ordinary people and those in power. This reached even to the point of preferring that Hitler ‘have his way with the Jews’ rather than intervening on their behalf. The US did finally come to the assistance of Europe late in the war, but that was only after all of France had been occupied and after much of London had been reduced to rubble by constant Nazi air raids. It is to Larsson’s credit that he reveals the anti-Semitism in the highest echelons of the US. In fact before the war began Hitler was Time Magazine’s ‘man of the year,’ a historical aberration that should not be

forgotten.
While there are strengths in Larsson’s writing perhaps some weaknesses can be found. Despite using many real quotes for the characters, they still seem to be lacking in terms of roundness. Dodd himself is characterized again and again, rather redundantly, as caring singularly about finishing his work of history. This seems a trivial endeavor in contrast to the role he could play as an ambassador. His daughter Martha is characterized almost entirely by her tendency to flirt and get into intimate relations with young men. There may have been a deeper aspect to her character that was left unrevealed.
On the other hand, such scrutiny could be unfair to Larsson without going to the length of trying to understand the limitations of writing about real-world people that left limited records. Larsson undoubtedly had the option of expanding upon his characters in a fictive manner, but without the proper evidence to do so one would risk blurring the historical record for the sake of unnecessary literary flourishes. Larsson also cannot be blamed for the any inherent dullness of Dodd’s character himself. It would be approaching an unethical deed to make up aspects of his personality, given that certain standards are expected in this type of historical work. Larsson has revealed his desire to make his books as realistic as possible, having said that he used to sit for hours imaging what it was his characters were doing in another of his works of fiction, ‘City and the Pillar’. This is a difficult task for a true scholar to undertake given limited information. Luckily in this case it seems that Dodd’s writings left plenty of information, as well as did the media due to his official stature.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this book was a suspenseful read and should draw a wide audience given its mix of engagement and its value as a compendium of historical events. Few books benefit from having so many themes, the struggle for humanity and the attempt to find some order in a country that is inevitably entering into chaos. ‘In the Garden of Beasts’ is both personal and general, painting a rich texture of struggle in a context of disaster.