"Do You Actually Love the Russians?": The Concept of "Total Love" as Narrative Strategy in Angela Krauß's Die Überfliegerin (1995)

This study of Die Überfliegerin (High-flying woman) examines the implications of what Krauß calls "total love" for the formation of self-consciousness and selfhood, as well as for the specific portrayal of the Russians who figured in her experiences as a GDR citizen. The longing inherent in total love to appropriate from the other what is lacking in oneself also has political repercussions, as it counteracts the rigid sociopolitical engineering of ideology that disrupts communication and deforms relationships. Beyond these ontological and ethical implications, total love has consequences for Krauß's narrative strategy: her multifaceted integration of descriptions, memories, and impressions literally enacts this empathetic engagement with the other. She thereby validates a vital approach to relationships and a renewed sense of personal agency in the aftermath of the GDR.