Goodbye to Berlin: Chapter 4: The Nowaks Summary & Analysis

Sometime after he returns to Berlin, Christopher goes to visit Otto’s family, the Nowaks. Frau Nowak, Otto’s mother, answers the door. Christopher asks after her lungs, as she has been unwell. The purpose of Christopher’s visit was to ask if Frau Nowak knows of any cheap rooms. Otto comes into the room asking about dinner. His mother criticizes his laziness. When Otto sees Christopher, he greets him warmly. Christopher asks Otto to come look for a room with him. After speaking privately with his mother, Otto asks Christopher if he would like to board with his family. 

Christopher moves in with the Nowaks. Aside from Otto and Frau Nowak, the family consists of Otto’s father, Herr Nowak; his 12-year-old sister, Grete; and his 20-year-old brother, Lothar. They have dinner to celebrate Christopher’s moving in. The Nowak household is a chaotic environment, full of fighting. Much of this conflict comes from the Nowak parents comparing Otto to Lothar, whom they view as more hardworking and a better son. Herr Nowak, often drunk, enjoys talking to Christopher about his beliefs and time in the army. When Lothar joins them for dinner, he is quiet and businesslike. Christopher learns that he is involved in a Nazi group.

Christopher spends his afternoons giving English lessons and his mornings with Otto. Otto tells him about his struggles within his family. He feels that his family does not understand him and does not want him around. He shows Christopher his collection of photographs and letters from his suitors, both women and men. Christopher asks him if he is in touch with Peter. In response, Otto asks him to never mention Peter’s name again. He says that Peter hurt him very much by leaving him.

Once in a while, a nurse comes to see Frau Nowak. She disapproves of the Nowaks’ living conditions: the entire family is crowded into a couple of attic rooms. The housing inspector also tells Frau Nowak that the living conditions are unacceptable, though the Nowaks are unable to do anything to change them. Another frequent visitor is a Jewish tailor, to whom the whole neighborhood owes money. Christopher notes that he allows people to buy more clothes on credit, even when they have not paid their outstanding views. When discussing Hitler, Frau Nowak insists that their neighborhood would never turn on the Jews.

Every night, Otto goes out dancing. He spends hours getting ready, picking out just the right outfit. Christopher also goes out. He often spends his time at the Alexander Casino, a dive bar where he meets interesting characters. One of these characters is Pieps, a teenage boy who has travelled Europe by himself after fleeing his abusive father. Pieps lives with his two friends Gerhardt and Kurt, who often fight with each other. Upon returning to the Nowaks’ apartment, Christopher reflects on the poor conditions and says that sleeping at the Nowaks is like “sleeping out in the jungle alone.”

Christopher describes one specific Sunday at the Nowak apartment. On that day, everyone is stuck inside due to inclement weather. As Christopher tries to work on his novel, the Nowak family fights around him. As per usual, Frau Nowak criticizes Otto for not being like his more industrious brother, and they get into a massive fight. By dinnertime, though, all is well, and the family laughs together.

Frau Nowak’s health worsens, and she consults doctors. As she and Otto continue to fight, he tells Christopher that he fears he will have a nervous breakdown. Christopher’s patience with the Nowak household wears thin, and he spends his evenings at the Alexander Casino with Pieps, Kurt, and Gerhardt, who amuse themselves by imitating the pretentious foreigners that come in on the weekends. Eventually, the doctors decide that Frau Nowak must spend time at a sanatorium to heal.

After the doctors prescribe time in the sanatorium to Frau Nowak, Christopher leaves the Nowak household. Otto begs Christopher to take him with him as his servant. Frau Nowak begins cooking Christopher’s farewell meal. She fights with Otto, who storms out of the room. When Christopher goes to check on him, he finds that Otto has slashed his wrist with a razor blade. Christopher is frustrated with him, but he comforts him.

One day, after Frau Nowak goes to the sanatorium, Christopher drops in on the Nowak apartment. He reflects to himself that he cannot believe he ever lived in such poor conditions. There, he finds only Herr Nowak and Grete about to light the Christmas tree. They are giddy in a way that seems unstable to Christopher, singing and laughing uncontrollably. A little while later, Otto calls on Christopher. Otto asks him to accompany him on a visit to Frau Nowak. Otto is wearing a fancy new suit, which one of his girlfriends bought him.

When Christopher and Otto arrive at the sanatorium, Otto and Frau Nowak greet each other excitedly. Christopher notices that she looks years younger. Frau Nowak introduces Otto and Christopher to her roommates, 35-year-old Erna and 18-year-old Erika. Christopher notes the dynamic of the women, whom he thinks act like overgrown schoolgirls. While Frau Nowak rests after lunch, Erna and Erika show Otto and Christopher around the facility. They have a snowball fight and laugh. Erna tells Christopher that she’s not really a consumptive, like Frau Nowak—she just needed a bit of looking after. She also tells him that as soon as she leaves the sanatorium, she will divorce her abusive husband and marry a new one.

After tea, they all dance in the ward. As Frau Nowak talks about her childhood, Erna kisses Christopher. Christopher has the sensation that he is living in a dream. He hears Otto and Erika scuffling and giggling on the other bed. A few minutes later, the bus arrives to take Otto and Christopher back into the city. Frau Nowak and Otto have a tearful goodbye during which Frau Nowak struggles against the arms of the nuns. Frau Nowak tells Christopher to write to her, even if it’s only a postcard. As the bus pulls away, Christopher has the sudden fear that the patients will attack the bus. However, the bus drives peacefully back to the city.