Gommel: Victims and Victimizers

Ernst Rohm (a victimizer of millions who in an instant became a victim because of his same-sex relationships) from his autobiography: A so-called 'immoral' man who does something competently means more to me than a so-called 'morally' clean person who is inefficient. [picture would not post]

In discussing the victim and victimizer it can be seen through the films and readings that both share some of the same qualities - both good and bad. What pushed them to bad choices were denial of the truth of their surroundings, self preservation and a gain in status. For some victimizers, like John Halder, intentions were initially good, but changed more as a matter of choice. For the victims it was different - being pushed to extremes out of no choice of their own.

The victimizer is characterized by selfishness, and falling prey to the surrounding situation with the need for approval especially from those in authority or for an advancement in one’s career.

In Good, John Halder tries to do what is right looking out for others, but ends up being the cruelest to humanity on a large scale. Max in Bent starts off as someone who is self centered, but in the end as a victim makes the more humanitarian choice by helping one in need. However as seen in the readings on homosexuality and National Socialism some victims felt forced by the Nazis to turn in family members, neighbors and business clientele; who would never even imagined they could make such a decision. Though gaining status is often seen as the reason for victimizers to follow through on horrendous behavior; unfortunately innocent victims sometimes make decisions to turn in others to gain status in some form; but which is most often due to survival.

With John Halder in Good we see a good person become a victimizer by slowly being drawn into the complexity of the surrounding situation. In Good it is not as if John Haldor intends initially to inflict harm on anyone, he just reacts to the stressors around him that lead to catastrophic conclusions. He simply acts out of regard for his own self in the end. He tries to do what is right, but can’t take the stress of the situation anymore, and rids himself of the problem in negative self fulfilling ways. His wife is unable to love him and care for him. She can’t even take care of herself and the kids. He tries to uplift her and reassure her, but she just drags him down. So he falls for a student of his and they run off together. His mother is ill and aging. She is flustered by her own existence and inability to thrive. He takes care of her and encourages her but to no avail. So it is apparent through the conversations with the Germans about his book that his mother was a victim of mercy killing. This served the Germans well, for a respected writer and professor to endorse such a deed. through Halder’s persuasive language the Nazi’s enlisted him to foster the use of mercy killing in the regime and make it look good to those involved, and come up with a good story to appease the families. From the beginning we see Haldor’s relationship with his friend, Maurice, decline. Halder tries to convince him that Jews will be alright in Germany. But Halder gets frustrated by Maurice’s whining about the Nazi takeover. Initially, he tries to reassure him, and then changes the subject. But by the end he straight out tells him I can’t do anything for you knowing that he will not survive the Nazi’s persecution. A big part of why he changes is to advance his career. When his intelligence and his life’s work are so deeply appreciated by the Nazi’s, he succumbs to their demands-of euthanasia of the masses. He loses sight of everything else in the process believing that he is doing the right thing. His remarks to Freddie reveal he even loses his concern for his children, for whom he stated he would continue to provide for though he has forsaken them and their mother. Only Helen does he have any concern for as she continues to remind him they are good, despite their cooperation in the Nazi death camps.

Max in Bent initially is seen as a victimizer. He seeks self-fulfillment without concern for others. Out of self preservation he watches as the Nazis kill his closest romantic partner and denies any friendship. Perhaps he wouldn’t have acted as such if his own preservation didn’t depend upon it. Max puts up a wall and blocks everyone out. It is through the imagination that Max is able to tear down the wall and open up to another in a unique way in the concentration camp. His concern is seen by the Nazis and they victimize Max by killing the one he cared for. Then Max gives up everything to reveal his true identity. He adorns the pink triangle jacket of his dead beloved and kills himself. The ultimate victimization, he victimizes his own self to find freedom from the pain of the victimizers.

Both victim and victimizer represent the denial of the situation. The victims have so much more pain in which to deal. The victim is characterized as being gullible with the belief that others are intrinsically good. Things will work out for good in time. Even by acquaintances victims are ignored with their concerns not taken seriously. Later they are ostracized by the selfish victimizers through propaganda, rumors, denunciation a loss of freedom, a loss of identity and death.

Yet this analogy is so grossly negligent of the true tragedy of victims, but is just one example through the use of film of how victimizers degrade individuals to force them into situations that should never be encountered.