Novella: The Heritage

Intro to The Heritage
"The Heritage" is a 1960 novella by German author Siegfried Lenz. The story is embeded in a small town in northern Germany, where the protagonist, Alwin, begins his narrative as an old man reflecting on his life, especially focusing on the events surrounding the transfer of his family's land to their surrounding farmers, the Koslows.

Alwin and the Family Farm
The story starts with Alwin, the eldest boy in a household that has lived and dealt with their ancestral land for generations. When his daddy passes away, Alwin is anticipated to take over the family farm and continue in his dad's footsteps. Nevertheless, Alwin's enthusiasm remains in woodworking, and he wants to become a carpenter. This creates conflict with his mom, who is fiercely traditional and insists that he needs to continue the household organization. While he concurs to do so, he feels increasingly suffocated as he is not happy with this life.

Highlighting the internal battle Alwin is dealing with, he ends up being familiarized with the Koslows, neighboring farmers who have prospered under post-war Germany. The Koslows are a more pragmatic household that embraces modification quicker than Alwin's own household. Throughout the novella, they function as a pointer to Alwin that there are alternative ways of life that he could be pursuing.

Alwin's Fight for Freedom
As a boy, Alwin satisfies the lady who becomes his fiancée, Jutta. Their relationship is a substantial part of the story, as Jutta is the first individual to really comprehend Alwin's desire for self-reliance and liberty from the family farm. Nevertheless, she is also the motivation for a substantial conflict between Alwin, his household, and their heritage. At her encouragement, he finally starts making strategies to become a carpenter.

Annoyed by his mom's rejection to acknowledge his passion and the future he desires for himself, Alwin decides to leave the household farm and apprentices with the local carpenter to fulfill his dream. This strong move is met tension and disapproval from his mom and the villagers, who consider his actions as a betrayal of his family and a desertion of their customs and heritage.

Alwin's Return and the Transfer of the Heritage
As soon as his apprenticeship is completed, Alwin returns to the village as a master carpenter after 7 years. Restoring his life, he begins a family with his other half Jutta. However, the upcoming birth of their very first child forces Alwin to challenge the heavy responsibility of the heritage that still holds on to him. He decides to offer the family farm and use the cash to broaden his woodworking organization.

Although the choice to offer their ancestral land is a tough one, eventually, it permits Alwin to pursue his passion and protect a future for his household. The Koslows wind up buying the home, sparking outrage among the standard villagers but symbolizing a shift in worths that have altered for many years.

Conclusion
"The Heritage" is a powerful story of household, traditions, and the struggle for people to break devoid of the expectations placed upon them by society and their own households. Siegfried Lenz's novella serves as a commentary on post-war Germany, as the country itself was required to come to terms with its past and forge a brand-new future. Through Alwin's struggle and supreme decision to offer the household farm, the story stresses the significance of self-determination and the awareness that in some cases embracing change is necessary to ensure one's own happiness and success, even when it means going against the wishes of those we hold dear.