Research Information System
Studien zur Deutschen Sprache und Literatur, no.51, pp.63-77, 2024 (ESCI)
Leibhaftig (Wolf, 2002) portrays the personal and societal decay emblematic of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) society through the lens of a nameless sick individual. This narrative illustrates not merely the illness of a single woman, but the affliction of an entire state organism. Amidst numerous surgeries, the protagonist experiences fever-induced recollections and hallucinations, often imbued with political undertones during her hospitalization. The study explores the hypothesis that illness in Christa Wolf’s work is not merely metaphorical but manifests as a psychosomatic consequence of repressed emotions. The protagonist’s body symbolizes the collective deterioration of the GDR, serving as a metaphor for the damage inflicted by the East German repressive regime while also serving as a metaphor for the damage inflicted by the regime while also functioning as a locus of surveillance and power. Through the protagonist’s struggle against an intestinal rupture, Wolf illustrates the physical and emotional toll of living under East German surveillance. Consequently, this study sets aims to address the significance of the body metaphor in relation to state surveillance. Methodologically, this study adopts an eclectic research stance, drawing upon hermeneutics, sociology of literature, and psychology will be applied across the board within the framework of an eclectic research stance.