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Symbols
In the novel, postcards symbolize the human willingness to sustain connections. Christopher often appears writing letters during the novel, demonstrating his penchant for maintaining contact with loved ones through correspondence. During Christopher’s time in Berlin, he and many of the people he meets live a transient lifestyle. As a result, he frequently loses contact with even his closest connections. One of these is Sally Bowles. However, though they lose touch by the end of the novel, in the final line of Isherwood’s “Sally Bowles” chapter, he urges her to write him a postcard. This urging cements the importance for Christopher of staying in touch, even through an effort as casual and unsubstantial as a postcard.
Postcards Quotes in Goodbye to Berlin
The Goodbye to Berlin quotes below all refer to the symbol of Postcards. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 2: Sally Bowles
Quotes
When you read this, Sally—if you ever do—please accept it as a tribute, the sincerest I can pay, to yourself and to our friendship.
And send me another postcard.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Postcards Symbol Timeline in Goodbye to Berlin
The timeline below shows where the symbol Postcards appears in Goodbye to Berlin. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2: Sally Bowles
...in July. He and Sally have not had much contact—they only sent each other few postcards throughout the first month of his trip. When he comes back, he finds out that...
(full context)
...make up, though they never see each other again. Two weeks later, Christopher receives a postcard from Sally in Paris saying she will write later. A month later, he receives a...
(full context)
Chapter 4: The Nowaks
...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...
(full context)
