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Action Will Be Taken
Action Will Be Taken
The narrator, inclined towards pensiveness rather than work, reluctantly takes a job
at Alfred Wunsiedel's factory due to financial difficulties. He navigates through an
unusual aptitude test, impresses with his unconventional answers, and gets hired. At
the factory, he encounters a culture obsessed with action, led by Wunsiedel himself,
and adopts the fervent ethos. The atmosphere is filled with tales of achievement and
a constant call for action. The narrator quickly assimilates, embracing the imperative
language and increasing his workload.
RESUMEN
The narrator says that he went to the employment office because… He was at a low
point financially speaking.
The narrator gets suspicious of Wunsiedel’s factory because… The place is well-lit
and the people are over cheerful.
The other applicants don’t notice that…The breakfast they are served is part of the
test.
The narrator answers the three interview questions in that way because… a. He
thinks he will get the job if he shows himself as an active person.
According to the narrator, Wunsiedel is the kind of man who… starts doing things as
soon as he gets up in the morning.
Los demás aspirantes no se dan cuenta de eso... El desayuno que les sirven es
parte de la prueba.
Según el narrador, Wunsiedel es el tipo de hombre que... empieza a hacer cosas tan
pronto como se levanta por la mañana.
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Second part
● The Lack of True Action: There's great irony in the fact that the only real
"action" in the story, the narrator's hesitation in saying the phrase, has
unintended consequences (Mr. Wunsiedel's heart attack). This further
undermines the supposed importance of the constant calls to action within
the factory.
c. Why do you think the narrator increases the number of telephones
on his desk?
The narrator in Action Will Be Taken, by Heinrich Böll, increases the number of
telephones on his desk for a few possible reasons:
● Psychological Crutch: With only seven phones, the narrator feels
impatient and unsatisfied. The growing number creates a sense of
productivity and accomplishment, even if it's illusory. It might be a way to
convince himself he's taking action, even though the action itself seems to
be meaningless.
● Satire on Bureaucracy: The ever-increasing number of phones becomes
a satirical jab at bureaucracy. Large organizations often boast a multitude
of communication channels, but these channels often lead nowhere or
create more confusion than clarity. The narrator's situation mocks the idea
that more communication equates to more action.
● Loss of Control: The narrator might be feeling powerless in some aspect
of his life. The phones, even if unused, become a way to exert control over
his immediate surroundings. He can choose how many there are and how
they're arranged, creating a small sense of order in a world that feels
chaotic.
● Meaningless Action: The story plays with the concept of "taking action."
The narrator fixates on the phrase but engages in meaningless activities
like rearranging phones or muttering different phrasings of the same
sentence. The growing number of phones becomes a symbol of this
meaningless action
● La falta de acción verdadera: Es una gran ironía el hecho de que la única acción
real "acción" en la historia, la vacilación del narrador al decir la frase, ha
consecuencias no deseadas (el ataque al corazón del Sr. Wunsiedel). Esto más
socava la supuesta importancia de los constantes llamados a la acción dentro
la fábrica.
Más preguntas……
a. What is the narrator’s reaction when Wunsiedel rushes into his office
shouting for action?
The narrator is struck by an "inexplicable something" in Wunsiedel's face that
makes him hesitate to respond with the usual cheerful "Action will be taken!" This
hesitation breaks the routine and suggests the narrator senses something
different about Wunsiedel's demand for action this time.
b. How does the narrator feel about Wunsiedel’s death? What realization
does he come to?
The narrator in Action Will Be Taken doesn't show any deep grief over
Wunsiedel's death. The story focuses more on the absurdity of the situation and
the narrator's own internal reaction.
However, Wunsiedel's death does spark a realization in the narrator. He sees the
performative nature of work at the factory, where the constant refrain of "Action
will be taken!" holds more weight than actual work. Witnessing Wunsiedel die
while enforcing this meaningless phrase prompts the narrator to discover his true
calling: a professional mourner.
c. What offer does the narrator receive after Wunsiedel’s funeral? Why is it
significant?
After Wunsiedel's funeral, the narrator receives an offer to become a professional
mourner for a "fashionable firm of funeral directors". They find his natural
pensiveness, dark suit attire, and apparently sorrowful demeanour perfectly
suited for the job.
This offer is significant for a couple of reasons:
● Satire: It satirizes the societal pressure for constant "action." The narrator,
who finds comfort in contemplation and inactivity, discovers a profession
that values these very traits in the peculiar context of mourning. The story
pokes fun at the idea that there's only one way to live a meaningful life.
● Self-discovery (with a twist): The offer provides a moment of
unexpected self-discovery for the narrator. He finds a job that aligns with
his natural disposition. However, the job itself is unconventional and even
humorous, highlighting the absurdity of societal norms.
d. How does the narrator describe his newfound vocation as a professional
mourner?
The narrator describes his newfound vocation as a professional mourner in a
somewhat ambivalent and introspective manner. He acknowledges the
peculiarity and strangeness of his new role, which involves attending funerals and
expressing grief for the deceased. The narrator also reflects on the emotional
detachment he experiences while performing this job, as he has to cry and grieve
on behalf of others yet remains emotionally unaffected by the actual loss. Overall,
the narrator's perspective on his new vocation is a mix of curiosity, detachment,
and a sense of being an outsider observing the rituals of mourning.
e. How does the story explore themes of identity, purpose, and fulfilment
through the narrator’s experiences?
In the story An Action Will Be Taken, by Heinrich Böll, the themes of identity,
purpose, and achievement are explored through the narrator's experiences
during World War II. The narrator's journey of self-discovery and the challenges
he faces along the way provide a powerful insight into the human struggle to find
meaning and purpose in life.