"Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac", (Kissinger, Henry). Heinrich Böll demonstrates to contemporary readers of the 1970's and even to readers of today, that the power structures existing in society can "act in an unpleasant and dangerous coalition, which exists to protect their interests and to damage those of individuals who ostensibly threaten them", (Harris, Nigel). He illustrates that power held in a society can be abused and that people who hold …showed first 75 words of 3148 total…

…showed last 75 words of 3148 total…use of their power to manipulate the vulnerable character of Katharina to satisfy their sexual desires, causes readers to be distanced from their actions and values and disapprove of them. Böll's novel draws a distinction between the hegemonic powers and those marginalised in society to illustrate the imbalance that exists and to prove that those who hold much power in society can easily abuse it and abuse those who are marginalised.