The Humorous and Grotesque Elements in Döblin's "Berlin Alexanderplatz</I>

Döblin manipulates language to set up the laughter of incongruity. The paradox of linguistic anarchy both attacks and defends the world order. Satire and irony expose weaknesses and faults in the world order; they attack both general human frailty and the specific political failings of the Germans and the Weimar Republic. Picaresque elements and the picaro tradition mock society, describe and criticize «Biberkopf». Grotesque incongruities, developed in the «dunkel»-motif, disclose a world order hostile to man. Consideration of his literary theories determine Döblin's humor as a serious element which allows for both perceiving incongruities in the world order and taking delight in its grand totality.