Mr. Karl: A Viennese monologue about opportunism and history

Mr. Karl: A Viennese monologue about opportunism and history

The first broadcast of "Der Herr Karl" on November 15, 1961 was an epochal event in the Austrian media landscape. Written by Helmut Qualtinger and Carl Merz and staged by Erich Neuburg, the one -hour monologue not only brought entertainment, but at the same time put the self -image of many Austrians to the test. As an apparently harmless delicat -coast magazine, the protagonist, the opportunistic Mr. Karl, exposes the often repressed shady sides of Austrian history and politics, especially the handling of National Socialism. This antihero, which was provided with a charming smile, is exposed as an accomplice of the past, which caused an outrage for the outrage, such as Noen reports .

a monologue full of contradictions

Mr. Karl is a complex figure that has established itself over the years as an embodiment of the “typical Viennese”. He tells his life story from the camp of a grocery business and reflects on the political upheavals in Austria from the first Republic to the post -war period. First a small socialist, Mr. Karl Schnell turns out to be a fellow runner and opportunist, who willingly adapts to the respective political power. The common faith of the victim that Austria was the first “victim” of National Socialism is questioned by the representation of Mr. Karl Scharf. The radiation of the piece broke up tabooed topics and led to a protest storm among the population, since many readers did not want to recognize themselves in the role of the opportunistic fellow runner, as well as wikipedia noted .

Over the decades, “Mr. Karl” has asserted itself as one of the most important works in the Austrian post -war literature. The satirical embossing of the monologue piece, coupled with Qualtinger's characteristic dialect, still appeals to the audience and creates a connection between historical events and today's society. The Mr. Karl, who was embodied by an actor like Klaus Rott or finally by Andreas Vitásek, remains not only part of the Viennese cultural scene, but also a mirror of human nature and the "banality of evil", which Hannah Arendt also described.