Cat and Mouse (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Gunter Grass
- First Published: 1961
- Type of Work: Novella
- Type of Plot: Bildungsroman
- Time of Work: World War II
- Setting: Danzig, Germany
- Genres: Long fiction, Bildungsroman
- Subjects: Memory, 1940’s, World War II, Friendship, 1930’s, Novelists, Germany or German people
- Locales: Danzig, Germany
Characters Discussed
Pilenz (pih-LEHNTS), at once the narrator of and a participant in the story. Pilenz often seems to be trying to justify his actions through his narrative. He was an altar boy in his youth, but as he ages he leaves behind his faith, although he continues to be involved with the Roman Catholic church. As a child, he was capable of great cruelty to Mahlke, although he sometimes seemed to admire him as well; Pilenz gave him the nickname “The Great Mahlke.” Pilenz went beyond mere childhood pranks to help bring about Mahlke’s ultimate undoing. He therefore...
[The entire page is 739 words long]
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