Resistance In Anna Funder's Stasiland

"YOU WON'T FIND THE GREAT STORY OF HUMAN COURAGE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR." ANNA FUNDER'S GREAT VICTORY IS THAT SHE DOES. DISCUSS.

Anna Funder's 2002 work of literary journalism, _Stasiland_, relates her journey through a "land gone wrong", the German Democratic Republic. Separated by the Berlin Wall and political ideology, East Germans lived under the ubiquitous and omniscient control of the Stasi, the secret police, whose "job it was to know everything about everyone". Throughout her quest, Funder uncovers several stories of courage in the face of such oppression, both in acts of resistance and in sustained displays of resilience, however these acts are individual and ineffectual in toppling the regime. Despite these brave individuals' fortitude,
Vocalised by Funder's archetypal dissident, Miriam; "[t]hey break you". Miriam's denunciation as an "enemy of the state" began at age sixteen with her publication and distribution of rebellious leaflets and continued for many years in her attempted escape at Bornholmer Bridge, her deception of Major Flesicher in interrogation and her relentless search for the truth about Charlie's death. The repercussions were also unremitting: incarceration, torture, constant surveillance, restrictions on education and employment and a complete destruction of autonomy. Through Miriam's plight, Funder reminds audiences of the "kind of mortgage [these] acts put on [their] future", evoking compassion for the lasting and unjust suffering. Funder's admiration of Miriam's "big voice" against the authorities is evident as her search for truth becomes intertwined with Funder's own investigation, to the point that Miriam's story frames the book itself. This admiration is paired with Funder's dignified interview with Gunter Bohnsack, the only Stasi man Funder attributes a first name. Bohnsack's rejection of the Stasi's "omerta, a code of honour that rules them" when he outed himself to local media was retaliated with abusive phone calls and social isolation. Through the discovery of such subversive acts, Funder appears empowered to continue with her own task in documenting this "lost
Frau Paul arguably personifies the human impact of the Wall. Separated from her sick son in the Westend hospital with limited visitation, the GDR's callousness sent Frau Paul to Berlin Ostbahnhof in an attempted escape. Subjected to persistent observation, this culminated in being "kidnapped right off the street", the connotation reminding readers of the Stasi's forced estrangement of Torsten from his mother. Withstanding a torturous ordeal in prison, Frau Paul's decision to deny the Stasi's offer to flee to the West in return for Michael Hinze is revered by Funder. Her recount of Frau Paul's story is steeped in the miserable imagery of her "weeping and weeping ", enhancing the sombre mood for the reader. Similarly, Funder's conversations with Julia Behrend illuminate another story of resolve. When narrating Julia's harrowing story, Funder acts merely as an observer in order to pay respect to an individual whose voice had been silenced by the Firm. Julia experienced continual victimization from the Stasi stemming from her relationship with an Italian boyfriend. Despite the Stasi's denial of her education and employment opportunities, Julia fought against anyone controlling her life. It was only after a brutal rape and a humiliating police interview that Julia felt she was