Manea’s “The Trenchcoat” was an enjoyable novella to read, although it left me fairly confused. Most things seemed to have a hidden meaning that was often going over my head. Especially after learning about all the censorship talking place at this time, it confirmed that likely what was being read was meant to be perceived in a different way than it first appeared. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out characters motivations, especially Dina’s. Her obsession with where the coat came from had me also obsessing with who’s it was, even though I did not understand why she was so consumed with it.
I feel as though it is fair to assume the trenchcoat represents something else entirely, but I do not really have ideas as to what. To me, I felt there was a stark contrast of emotions surrounding the coat. Some characters cared so little that the name of the item was constantly being changed (overcoat, trenchcoat, raincoat) whereas others appeared to be hyperfocused on the coat and it’s meaning and origin. I think this likely speaks to something deeper, but again, I do not know what.
At the end, when there is the rant about “scientific cynicism” and the idea of an experiment, as well as stating there were “many hypotheses,” I think was a creative way to play into the idea that nobody was going to get any answers from the novella, and it was open to interpretation. Sometimes I think things like this are the most fun, things that leave you confused and open to your own interpretation of the reality taking place. Some people may finish the novella feeling as though the trenchcoat is simply just that.
Another thing that stood out to me while reading this was the fakeness of the characters. It made me wonder if there is perhaps a hidden meaning behind their behaviour as well, or if they are just meant to be somewhat unlikable and distrustful. Perhaps this was a another way of showing censorship? The characters feeling the need to present one way and feeling another. I’m looking forward to hearing about what Manea has to say about the meaning and messages of this story.
My biggest question from the reading is simply just why did Dina care so much about the coat? To the point where she made multiple phone calls to people, was this really all about the coat, or did she have a hidden agenda she was looking to carry out?
Very well put, Laura! Indeed, I was one who thought that whatever the coat symbolised was not important. The coat as a mundane object that draws so much tension and chaos is highly interesting. I suppose when living in a totalitarian society, rife with censorship, you’re constantly on your toes. There’ll be something at the back of your mind telling you to be careful with what you say and what you do. Anything can be a sign that someone is watching, or maybe not? Maybe it really is nothing, but the very fact that we hypothesise just makes it all the more sinister.
Hi Laura! Thank you for your post. I think the trenchcoat is a tool to highlight the division, fear, and distrust between people living under a dictatorial communist regime. I agree with you that the characters in this book are extremely fake even when living their lives. I think that is completely normal societally speaking, considering Romania at the time was an unfree nation with dominant mass surveillance and censorship. To answer your question, probably Dina thought that leaving the trenchcoat at her house was a political trap, and only its true owner would know the whole story.
Hi Laura! Great post 🙂 I think the trenchcoat, as others have also stated, represents the innate mistrust individuals were experiencing at the time in relation to one another, as well as their government. “Sometimes I think things like this are the most fun, things that leave you confused and open to your own interpretation of the reality taking place.” I appreciate this sentiment. Personally, I always find myself wanting answers at the end of a narrative. However, I do agree that there is room for individual creativity within our ruminations when a story ends with a bit of a question mark, and this can certainly be fun.
Great post, Laura. Regarding what you say about confusion, I think the author reproduces very well the state in which people find themselves in that context: a state of confusion, paranoia, overthinking about seemingly trivial things like a coat. And the coat at a point means that anything can be suspected.