Book Review: "The Wall" by Marlen Haushofer

I am happy to say that recently I returned from my hometown of Birmingham (as of writing this review, it is the 3rd of November). When there, I visited some old haunts such as the bookshop where I picked up a copy of The Wall by Marlen Haushofer. I had never heard of this book in my life but I liked the depiction of existentialism which highlighted the book cover. I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover and so I read the blurb just in case. I was sold.

A book about a blend between utopia and dystopia was just what I needed to end my stay in my hometown. (Actually, I went to watch a film called The Heretic and it was terrible and then I went back to Nottingham). Here's where we get into the book...

I don't want to give too much of how this happens away but, after the wall appears, an unnamed protagonist realises she is the sole human survivor within her enclosed area. This spans mountains, forests, and meadows. She’s forced into a survivalist existence, focusing on essential needs: food, water, warmth, and shelter.

Her previous life as a typical member of society no longer applies, and survival takes on a primal nature, forcing her to redefine herself outside societal expectations and norms. I won't say what caused this, but what we can learn about this is that there is very clearly a sense of dystopia running underneath the text. I loved the way the exposition wasn't long and drawn out, but there is something about it that is odd and, again, I won't mention here.

Her isolation leads her to confront her inner self without distraction. In the absence of others, she contemplates deeply philosophical questions about purpose, mortality, and the self. Stripped of societal roles, she becomes both creator and observer of her existence, noting that her life has become something “outside of time.”

This existential crisis is both terrifying and enlightening, as it removes all illusions of life’s conventional meaning and leaves her only with raw existence. I absolutely loved these contemplations because they are so universal even if we don't think that they are. This part seemed less dystopian to me because I am sure that in the real world, she probably would've contemplated this stuff too - just in a different way.

Her relationships with her dog, Lynx, and the other animals (a cow named Bella, a cat, and later a calf) become central to her survival and emotional wellbeing. The animals provide her with companionship, routine, and purpose, helping her maintain her sanity. Over time, they become surrogate family members, and her dependence on them mirrors her dependency on nature as a whole.

Her bond with them is rooted in trust, routine, and shared survival. The dog was one of my favourite characters because it had such great personality. It really felt like a character rather than simply a pet. There was something extremely mutual between the protagonist and the dog that wasn't just about survival but rooted more in the fact that even though there were other animals, they knew they only really had each other as close friends.

Over time, the woman experiences a psychological transformation shaped by her environment and solitude. The initial despair and feelings of hopelessness gradually shift as she adapts to her situation. Her psyche undergoes a slow shift from resistance to acceptance, and eventually, a form of inner peace. Yet her thoughts continue to circle around themes of loneliness, loss, and the sheer strangeness of a world in which she is entirely alone. This reminds me of so many other books, but nothing quite does it like this one.

Even though she finds utopian activities such as looking after animals and farming, she cannot shake the feeling that there is nothing left for her out there and so - the creeping sensation of being truly alone enters her mind once again. It is such a greatly terrifying feeling universal to us all that is multiplied on her scale, but also reminds us that she too, is a human being.

I won't say how the book ends but there is something really ambiguous about it, as if we are meant to understand the same thing as the protagonist. There is something about this stream-of-consciousness dystopia/utopia blend that is meant to connect us across worlds and walls. I read the ending myself and then, like I sometimes do, went back some pages to read it again just to make sure the message stuck. It was like holding your breath for ages and then, finally breathing out.