Satirical Report of Novel 'Look Who's back' by Timur Vermes (Essay Sample)

Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Number Date Satirical Report of Novel 'Look Who's back' by Timur Vermes In Timur Vermes' "Look Who's Back," the author presents a satirical commentary on the dangers of ignoring history and the potential for fascism to rise again in modern society. Through the portrayal of Adolf Hitler's return to present-day Germany and his subsequent rise to power, Vermes illustrates the disturbing ease with which extremist ideologies can gain traction and the devastating consequences that can result. The novel begins with Hitler waking up in 2011, initially mistaken for a comedian performing an impersonation of the dictator. However, as Hitler becomes more famous and controversial, he starts to gain political influence, much to the dismay of those around him. Vermes uses this premise to satirize the way in which society can be easily manipulated by charismatic leaders and the dangers of not learning from the past. One of the key satirical elements in the novel is the way in which Hitler is able to gain popularity and influence despite his extreme views. Vermes portrays the media's role in this, satirizing the way in which they can be used to spread hateful ideologies and how people can be easily swayed by rhetoric and charisma. In one scene, Hitler says, "The media is the only force that can shape public opinion. It's the only force that can give a man with a small mustache the chance to become a world leader" (Vermes, p. 78). This highlights how Hitler's rise to power is not only due to his own manipulation but also the media's contribution to spreading his ideologies. Vermes also satirizes the way in which people can be easily swayed by promises of greatness and the way in which society has failed to learn from the past. This is demonstrated in a scene where a German woman says "I'm not interested in what he did back then. He's a nice man now and that's all that matters" (Vermes, p. 121). This satirical exaggeration of people's willingness to ignore the past and to be swayed by promises of greatness highlights the dangers of forgetting history and the potential for fascism to rise again. The novel also satirizes the way in which people have become desensitized to Hitler's atrocities and the way in which they can be easily manipulated. The satirical exaggeration of the way in which Hitler's atrocities are trivialized and how people are willing to overlook them for the sake of promises of greatness highlights the dangers of forgetting history and the potential for fascism to rise again. Vermes also uses the novel to satirize the way in which people can be easily manipulated by propaganda. The way in which Hitler is able to use propaganda to gain support highlights the dangers of not being critical of the information we are presented with and the potential for fascism to rise again. Another satirical element in the novel is the concept of celebrity culture and the way in which people are easily drawn to famous figures, regardless of their actions or beliefs. Hitler's rise to fame and influence in the novel is portrayed as a result of his celebrity status, rather than any genuine support for his ideologies. This satirizes the way in which people can be easily manipulated by fame and the potential for dangerous figures to gain power through mass appeal. There is another important satirical element in the novel is the way in which politicians and the political system are portrayed. Vermes satirizes the way in which politicians are willing to compromise their principles for the sake of gaining power and the way in which the political system can be easily manipulated by those in power. In the novel, politicians are shown to be easily swayed by Hitler's charisma and are willing to overlook his atrocities in order to gain his support. This satirizes the way in which politicians can prioritize their own ambition over the...