Goodbye to Berlin

by

Christopher Isherwood

Frl. Schroeder Character Analysis

Frl. Schroeder is the owner of the boarding house where Christopher and, later, Sally live in Berlin. She was formerly a wealthy woman, but the economic inflation that Germany experienced after World War I forced her to begin taking boarders in her apartment. This fact of her character represents a larger truth about 1930s Berlin: the events of World War I greatly affected many the financial situations of many Berliners. Frl. Schroeder also takes a great interest in the personal lives of her boarders, encouraging Christopher and Sally to marry one another.
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Frl. Schroeder Character Timeline in Goodbye to Berlin

The timeline below shows where the character Frl. Schroeder appears in Goodbye to Berlin. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1: A Berlin Diary, Autumn 1930
Antisemitism in Germany Theme Icon
Christopher describes the boardinghouse in which he lives. The landlady, Frl. Schroeder , has decorated the living space in a Gothic style, and the room is full... (full context)
Storytelling Theme Icon
Antisemitism in Germany Theme Icon
Money as Security Theme Icon
Decadence Theme Icon
Christopher describes the rest of the lodgers in Frl. Schroeder ’s apartment. Bobby is a young man who works as a bartender in a club... (full context)
Friendship Theme Icon
Decadence Theme Icon
Sometime after Christopher’s lunch with the Bernstein family, Frl. Kost and Frl. Schroeder , get into a fight. Frl. Kost accuses someone in the house of stealing money... (full context)
Chapter 2: Sally Bowles
Friendship Theme Icon
Storytelling Theme Icon
Later on, when Christopher invites Sally to tea at his boardinghouse, Frl. Schroeder is very excited about a possible romance between the two of them. She takes great... (full context)
Friendship Theme Icon
Decadence Theme Icon
On New Year’s Eve, Sally comes to live in Frl. Kost’s old room in Frl. Schroeder ’s boardinghouse. The boarders all have dinner together. Afterward, Sally and Christopher accompany Bobby to... (full context)
Friendship Theme Icon
The next morning, Sally feels ill. Christopher and Frl. Schroeder call in the doctor to examine her, and the doctor determines that she is pregnant.... (full context)
Friendship Theme Icon
Money as Security Theme Icon
...his trip. When he comes back, he finds out that Sally has moved away from Frl. Schroeder ’s boardinghouse, much to Frl. Schroeder’s disappointment. She tells Christopher that she always hoped that... (full context)
Friendship Theme Icon
...awkward—Christopher notices that Sally seems to avoid his eyes. She tells him that she left Frl. Schroeder ’s boardinghouse out of boredom. During their visit, she picks up a phone call and... (full context)
Chapter 6: A Berlin Diary, Winter 1932-3
Money as Security Theme Icon
Decadence Theme Icon
Having returned to Berlin, Christopher once again lives in Frl. Schroeder ’s boarding house. Bobby is still there, though his appearance and demeanor have suffered because... (full context)
Antisemitism in Germany Theme Icon
Christopher plans his final exit from Berlin. Frl. Schroeder is very upset about this and does not understand why he wants to leave. He... (full context)