Being A Woman Essays: The Challenge Of Being A Woman

The Challenge of Being a Woman

In the eyes of the reader, Lämmchen was the optimistic wife of the main protagonist and as a woman in society struggling. When trouble arises in society or even between her and her husband, Lämmchen tries remaining claim and firm about the situation. Even though there are times when Lämmchen had panicked over the situation throughout Hans Fallada’s novel Little Man What Now, Lämmchen is determined to find an alternative solution. Even if Lämmchen tried being optimistic about her new life, she is struggled being a new wife, a new daughter, a new mother, and view as the new woman. All at once, Lämmchen had become a new wife, mother, and daughter; at first it seems like a new adjustment Lämmchen had to make for the sake of her unborn baby. However, the adjustment had hit her harder as the German economy deteriorated and the inflation had turn into a hyperinflation (Weitz 134). The thought of marriage life seems ideal but as the realization of being married and unplanned pregnancy

Lämmchen’s mentality is of traditional values whereas her physical actions are of the new woman values. Her actions as the new woman were becoming pregnant before getting married (Fallada 7), had a source of income and personal saving (Fallada 21-22), unable to do womanly chores (Fallada 64) and later becoming main provider of the family. However, her mentality values allowed her to be the traditional woman, such as caring for the wellbeing of her husband, cooking for him (Fallada 64), and caring for her Shrimp after her birth. To some people at this time, see Lämmchen as a new woman and will get judge. There were men during this time whom judged the new women; Hans Ostwald critic women like Lämmchen of her moral for getting pregnant before getting married (Ostwald