Metaphor for Kaiser Wilhelm II
The place where the Kaiser is staying in 1940 is representative of the Kaiser himself and the author uses this location as a metaphor to describe the author. Huis Doorn is the location where the Kaiser is staying, in a large and beautiful palace that is decrepit and aging, in a place is the eastern Netherlands. This palace itself is a metaphor for Kaiser Wilhelm II. Both were once magnificent and exuded a sense of power, but now they are getting old and worn down. The location of Huis Doorn is also extremely important. It is far from the war in a rural area that has little to no connection with the war. This a metaphor for how the Kaiser is separate from the war and distant from all the action that is taking place.
Metaphor for Greed
Kaiser Wilhelm II's wife is the largest metaphor for unchecked greed and ambition the book. Throughout the novel, she is constantly whispering in the Kaiser's ear and egging him on, trying to persuade him to join the Nazis and regain power once more. He was once king of Germany and as his wife she probably enjoyed unimaginable luxuries, those of which she now no longer has due to her husband's deposition from the throne. Her wish to get back the throne is representative of the Kaiser's greed and ambition buried deep within himself, straining to reclaim authority.
Simile for Humility
Alan Judd blatantly mentions in the novel's text that chopping logs and performing other rural activities was a simile for humility. While staying in exile in the Netherlands, Kaiser Wilhelm II routinely performs rural activities with his wife, those of which include chopping logs and passing time in the countryside. The author uses this simile to represent the humility not only that the Kaiser must experience to change his ways and give up the Nazi ideology, but the humility that various characters must experience in order to change their ways of thinking.
Metaphor for Home
Although it may seem slightly surprising, the author Alan Judd uses the historical figure Prime Minister Winston Churchill as a metaphor for the idea as home. Kaiser Wilhelm II was born and raised in Great Britain as a child, where he spent the most time with the people he loved. As he later went on to become ruler of Germany, he retained a liking for his home country of Great Britain. This liking for home was exemplified during his exile when he spent time away from Germany, betrayed by his people, thinking about seeking refuge in Britain. Winston Churchill would try to visit the Kaiser or send a representative to visit the Kaiser in order to persuade him to come to Britain and help them, using the idea of home to draw in the Kaiser.
Metaphor for Rejection of Old Ideals
Throughout the book, it is easy to see characters and plots develop based on the idea of change and a rejection of old ideas, prejudices, or thoughts they might've had based on initial circumstances. A metaphor for rejection of old ideals is Akki. Akki is a British maid who is also Jewish. On the other hand we have Krebbs, a SS Officer who is German and embodies the enemy of the British and Jewish people, and is supposed to be the ideological enemy of these people. We find out that his hatred of these people is not as concrete as previously believed after he falls in love with Akki and continues to love her and stay with her despite knowing everything about her. She is a metaphor for the change of ideas and rejected old prejudices.
