Mr. Karl

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Herr Karl is an almost one-hour monologue ,somewhere between theater play and cabaret ,writtenby Helmut Qualtinger and Carl Merz in 1961. The one-person play, which was initiallyfilmedfor Austrian television with Qualtinger as the actor(director: Erich Neuberg , first broadcast on November 15, 1961) and then performed on numerous stages, causedheated controversyin Austria .

content

The antihero "Herr Karl" tells a "young person", the viewer, his life story while he is working in the warehouse of a delicatessen store. The narrator increasingly turns out to be an opportunistic follower from the petty-bourgeois milieu, who maneuvered his way through life in the changeable course of Austrian history from the end of the First World War to the end of the occupation in the 1950s.

At first glance, Mr. Karl can be characterized as a typical Viennese, “ Catholic ” and “freedom-loving”, as an eternal rascal. As a representative petty bourgeoisie , he embodies the vox populi , the voice of the people, so to speak . Outwardly, Mr. Karl appears as a nice, honest, but naive guy with a loving look. But little by little the viewer learns about the opportunist who is hiding behind this facade of cosiness.

When the clerical-fascist dictatorship was established in the corporate state in 1934 , Mr. Karl, who had been a socialist until then , became a supporter of the Christian Socialists . After the " Anschluss of Austria " in 1938, he immediately switched to the political camp of the National Socialists . After 1945 he tried to be of service to the occupying powers . However, Mr. Karl does not only use the adjustment of his political opinion to gain advantages. The selfishness runs through his entire life. He sees himself as a “man of the world”, the viewer gets to know him as an unscrupulous profiteer, slacker and adjuster due to his behavior towards his fellow men. His cold heart allows him not to miss an opportunity where he can take advantage of other people.

Impact history

After the Second World War , the participation of large parts of the population in the National Socialist regime and deep-seated anti-Semitism in Austria was “not discussed” . Instead, according to the victim thesis , Austria was the first victim of National Socialist Germany. The broadcast of “Der Herr Karl” on November 15, 1961 on ORF broke this “ban on the past” . “In the portrayal of the typical Viennese opportunist, the soul of the average Austrians was hit. Outraged letters to the editor saw themselves misrepresented as the followers of National Socialism. "

Qualtinger and Merz played in a satirical way with the outrage that the protest storm they triggered with it and added a number of fictitious letters from good Austrian citizens to the text in the book published by "Mr. Karl", all of which were Prove brothers in the spirit of the eternal opportunist. Today the piece is one of the classics of the post-war period.

The publicist and critic Hans Weigel described "Herr Karl" as a "human condition of Austrian coloring"; the lexicon of world literature describes him as "the figure of the lousy everyone".

Several authentic figures probably served as models for Herr Karl; above all Hannes Hoffmann - at that time owner of the Gutruf artists' meeting place , in which Qualtinger also frequented - is mentioned in this context. The connections to the development of public opinion in Austria are obvious. Qualtinger and Merz portrayed the average citizen as an accomplice with their Mr. But regardless of his unpleasant traits, Mr. Karl also seems quite sympathetic, so the drama is definitely related to the thesis of the " banality of evil " as put forward by Hannah Arendt .

The “ nest dirtier ” Qualtinger became famous overnight with the monodrama and “Herr Karl” became a legendary figure. According to Qualtinger, the egoists, opportunists, cynics, petty bourgeoisie and petty fraudsters etc. a. Nikolaus Haenel , Ernst Konarek , Erwin Steinhauer , Heribert Sasse , Martin Zauner (the centenary of the Vienna Chamber Games in 2010, where he also played Helmut Qualtinger 1962 had) and as a staged reading and Hilde Sochor played.

In 2010 the play was adapted as a puppet show by Nikolaus Habjan and performed in the Schubert Theater in Vienna .

"Der Herr Karl" was implemented as a graphic novel by Christian Qualtinger, Helmut Qualtinger's son, and Reinhard Trinkler and published in 2014 by Amalthea Signum Verlag .

The piece

language

Mr. Karl varies between his typical Viennese dialect and the - not mastered - standard language. The intonation is significant: from admiring the Nazis in Viennese, it suddenly changes to a kind of prescribed disgust in high-level language. This enables him to change his mind in a flash. The listener gets the impression that what the hero really thinks and feels is being said in authentic everyday dialect, while the high-level language serves as a facade in which the justifications and excuses are carried outwards.

Stage space

The basement of a grocery store provides the backdrop for Mr Karl's stories. Between shelves full of canned goods and bottles, he talks about God and the world and about his time before, during and after the war.

This stage design appears limited and narrow, as a stylistic means, which should embody the small-mindedness and the horizon of the main character. The set never changes and thus alludes to the inner monotony of Mr. Karl's life.

Costumes

Today's viewer may notice that Mr. Karl wears his hat almost all the time . At the time the piece was made, the hat was still a popular item of clothing.

Historical events and people in the play

In his one-hour monologue, Mr. Karl mentions numerous historical events and people:

First World War
"Austria has only slowly recovered from the wounds inflicted by the First World War."
Community building
"I maan, a communal apartment raised i jo ghobt."
March 1, 1925: Schilling was introduced
“It was a terrible time. Inflation…"
"I maan, since Schilling hot is already valued ... but it was not to be found in between."
1927 Palace of Justice fire
“A troubled time ... You never knew which party was the stronger. You never could decide where to go ... "
"Then the historic year 26 will come, with the fire at the Palace of Justice [...] 27 woa's"
1930s global economic crisis , unemployment
"During the crisis he shot himself, old Mr. Feinkost-Wawra."
“Who is into her God? In de 30s Joa please. Do hot ma kaans ghobt. "
“Do woa i very often unemployed. Hackenstad. "
“I joined Sparverein back then ... I am a cashier woan. But that was a carelessness. Do you know that you almost had me locked up? So it was thrown at me, with the accounts ... Do you know what it is, an account? If you switch from one account to another ... No, I cannot explain that to you as a layperson. "
1923 / 24–1934 Schutzbund (banned from 1934)
Demonstration for the Schutzbund
"Until 34 I was a socialist, what aa ka job."
1919–1936 Home Guard
Demonstration for the Home Guard:
“Later I went to demonstrate for the blacks. For the cocktails. Home Guard. I got five shillings. Then I am ummi zum -zu de Nazi. I got aaa five shillings. Well, Austria has always been apolitical. But a little money is accumulated, right? "
1938 "Anschluss" ( Hitler invades Austria)
"Then it'll be dealt with Hitler anyway. [...] When was san Se born? 38? [...] Samma olle - well, I waaß no - at the Ring and at Heldenplatz. The policemen with the swastika armbands - smart! Terrible, terrible, a crime how these gullible people were misled !! "
"You felt a certain size."
"De Deitschen sand marched in with a sounding game."
anti-Semitism
“There was a Jew in the community building, a certain Tennenbaum. Otherwise a nice person. There were things against the Nazis written on the sidewalk ... and the Tennenbaum had to wipe it up. Net he allan, the other Jews eh aa ... I got him to wipe up. The caretaker laughed, he was always there at a Hetz. "
“Existence was built back then, businesses aryanized. Houses, cinemas! I only led to Jews. I was a victim. Others have become rich; I was an idealist. "
National Socialist People's Welfare (NSV)
founded as a welfare organization of the NSDAP;
"Well, what was it?" At the NSV. Do you have something to think about when you go? "
Second World War
"I tell you, I foresaw the Second World War in a dream."
“Mia raised a barracks nearby. Thu I already picked up the sou Soldoten - German Soldoten - and entered the community building. "
"I woa jo in the air raid."
1945 end of the war
“He came back another day. The Tennenbaum. I greet him. He doesn't look at me. I think: Well please, now it's bees, the Tennenbaum. Besides, someone should have wiped it away! "
November 30, 1945 currency reform and 1947 devaluation
“... what I came to a nightspot at that time, I am a lord. And that's where the currency reform comes in. Thu I raised olle olle lust for life. "
1945–1955 occupation
“And then the Russians found kemma. No, I am very good with you. Hob de Russn specially guided into my apartment: Come tawarisch, idi siuda, pick it up Hitler Büd pockt, on the earth, trampled on it, hobns says "karascho" and san gangan, ned? "
“A poa month late, who believes, who kummen sand? De Americans! Well that was a relief !! "
May 15, 1955 State Treaty
“Gfreit was already lifting the tog. Where I finally lifted the stootsvertrog. So I thought to myself: I've now done that too. "
Ignaz Seipel (1876–1932)
"The whole Federal Chancellor how s' da warn ... The Seip ... the Bur ... the Scho ... well, da blade ... Well, help it ma. You learned it. Well, it doesn't matter , but there are personalities: the Petzner-Masl, Woitschkerlbuam, Korschinek Vickerl, Nezwerka Pepi ... "
Leopold Figl (1902-1965)
"Then he stepped out the Herr Bund ... Poidl, ..."

The image of women in the play

Mr. Karl's relationships form an important and long part of his monologue, his life. His dealings with his women are characteristic of the opportunistic turn-neck Karl. “My heart was always with me. Always with a bit of the heart. "

  • The beginnings

"Then I knew: When I would order something at the delicatessen Wawra, Mr. Karl would come."

Mr. Karl uses his job at Feinkost-Wawra to get a special kind of "tip". Because if the landlord was not at home, according to Mr. Karl, then as a “young person, smart” there was also “a tip” for him after a “quarter of an hour”. A short time later, Karl speaks of smoking as his only vice and notes that there are hardly any more passions next to it. Except for the housewives. His sexist attitude comes out very clearly here: For Mr. Karl, women are goods, similar to the decent tips that would have been given by the landlord. He does not believe in being bound if it is not a requirement (as in his later marriages).

  • Women with power

"Yeah, lady boss."

Also at the beginning it becomes apparent how Mr. Karl, who is otherwise always subordinate to the authorities, treats women as his superiors: He consoled them, does not carry out any of their instructions and later even asks them to get their own cigarettes to buy. He grumbles: “De Alte shouldn't upset her. Should be happy that she's got it. ”And“ Forty years ago it was aa ka boss g'wesn ”.

  • Mr. Karl's seduction skills

the Donauauen in the thirties: "Do homma a Hetz ghobt!"

Mr. Karl's seductive skills are limited to playing the mandolin and harmonica and singing the hits from the sound films. He has " taken over the girls with mischief ".

  • The first marriage

“I got married in church. That was rather cheap back then. "

It is not for nothing that Mr Karl first mentions his first marriage in a sentence about his thirties: “Man hot jo has to live on. Know it You goa net imagine what? You learn from me, the struggle for life as we domois hom must lead it - even marriage raised i. "

Apparently what he finds most appealing about his first wife, whom he describes as not particularly attractive, is her good financial position as landlady in the economically weak period. He conquered her while she was still mourning her "Poldl". “I looked at it, I thought: it’s fine. But actually no quite a pretty woman ... ". The situation was extremely favorable for Mr. Karl, as at that time he had nothing better to do and was in the pub a lot. For his carefree life (“She was running a business!”) Mr. Karl even accepts to give up some of his freedom at least superficially and to bind himself in wedlock.

For Mr. Karl, the marriage then consisted of “animating guests”, “umanaundazzug, with the specs - it is enough if someone is in business”, dog races and the common savings account and clearing the cash register - justification: “I was a young person against her ... proportionately. "

When the wife then defends herself, "Since Poidl wants to see when he can stop and see what happens, in his tavern", Mr. Karl has enough. He has not given up his communal apartment building - probably with foreboding - so it is easy for him to leave his first wife. "Give up my freedom, I could never do that!"

  • The "second marriage partnership"

"She was a modern person without prejudice."

His second wife worked with Mr. Karl as a ticket operator in a cinema during the war . He “of course sometimes took the opportunity, it was a modern marriage. A man is a man, if he is a real man - in war it was easy with women. ”“ The woman is the giving part, and the man is the ruling part. ”He also makes this view very clear to his second wife. For even if he thinks it is okay to occasionally take advantage of modern marriage, such behavior on your part is “against the dignity of the man”. But after he is not “man” enough to defend himself against the German soldiers who come and go in his apartment, he waits until it becomes a foreign worker: “Schleich di!” Is all he can still has to say to his second wife.

  • The third woman

“She was an operator . But otherwise very clean. "

He met his third wife as a balloon seller . He then “stayed with her until da Frua”. "Fesch wor's net". But to his consolation, the "dashing billeteer" is now also "schiach, fat, directly uncomfortable". During this time, Mr. Karl reads a lot. He stays at home and takes care of the household. But also “this community did not last, it has become suffering”. Mr. Karl also ended this relationship. This time with the words: “You have to see, now I have to go.” Mr. Karl kept his council apartment and with his “unemployed”, which he saved during this time, he could continue to live carefree. "I'm not stupid!"

literature

  • Georg Biron: Quasi Mr. Karl. Helmut Qualtinger. Cult figure from Vienna including audio CD “Is there really Mr. Karl?” Braumüller Verlag, Vienna 2011. ISBN 978-3-99100-046-4 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Robert Foltin : And we are still moving - social movements in Austria. Edition Grundrisse, Vienna 2004, p. 48 ( Copyleft- licensed book )
  2. ↑ Gero von Wilpert (Ed.): Lexikon der Weltliteratur, Vol. 2. dtv, Munich, 1997 ISBN 3-423-59050-5 p. 1230.