Go, Went, Gone

Richard continues to study the refugees’ situation and the rulings surrounding the evacuation of Oranienplatz. There are two mentions that specifically point out that the withdrawal of the refugees is permanent. Richard reflects on the barriers the refugees face: “Language is never a coincidence, as he always tried to make his students understand” (103). He sees that the language is crafted to ensure that the refugees will legally be expelled from Germany, while allowing the Germans to feel as if they did all that they could to help. 

On Monday Richard returns to the German class. The teacher tells Richard that he could take over her advanced classes, if he likes, and he says he will think about it. The next day when he visits, he sees the teacher trying to hang a poster in the kitchen. He hands her thumbtacks and tries to help as she hangs colorful pictures for the refugees to look at. Richard remembers holidays with his wife. Now that she has died, holidays arrive and pass before he realizes they are coming. The teacher says she must leave because she is not allowed to be in the area with the men’s rooms.