“Which would be worse? To be accepted or refused? A weight pressed on his heart. How could he want something and fear it so much at the same time?” 

Friedrich contemplates his desire to join the conservatory. He wants to be accepted, but at the same time is worried that he will face ostracism, even if he is accepted. This ambivalent feeling, a mixture of desire and fear, accompanies the shame he feels at his appearance, and ties into the theme of the effects of intolerance.

Friedrich contemplates his desire to join the conservatory. He wants to be accepted, but at the same time is worried that he will face ostracism, even if he is accepted. This ambivalent feeling, a mixture of desire and fear, accompanies the shame he feels at his appearance, and ties into the theme of the effects of intolerance.

Here, Anselm taunts Friedrich in the harmonica factory. While Friedrich clearly is “different” than others because of his appearance, and faces ostracism in his daily life, Anselm calls him a “favorite,” turning his status in his safe haven of the harmonica factory against him. This quote also serves to demonstrate the kind of blind trust that allowed fascism to thrive in Friedrich’s town, and across Germany.

“The harmonica had a rich, ethereal quality—the same alluring sound he’d heard earlier in the graveyard room. The more he played, the more the air around him seemed to pulse with energy. He felt protected by the cloak of music, as if nothing could stand in his way.” 

Friedrich plays Otto’s harmonica for the first time. The harmonica is enchantedand has magical qualities. This quote demonstrates Friedrich’s first magical experience: the harmonica makes him feel almost invincible. This ties into the theme of the power of music.