The Little Liar

Fannie is one of the protagonists in The Little Liar. After being forced into one of the cattle cars in Salonika, she is thrown from the train by Sebastian and told to “tell the world what happened here” (6), which ultimately is the reason that the story is told. The novel is narrated by the personification of the truth itself, and this speaker is revealed to be Fannie at the end of the novel. Keeping her promise to the other prisoners in the cattle car, Fannie tells the world what happened in the form of the novel: The Little Liar. She also explores the ways in which humans bend the truth to fit their own narratives, implying that the truth is rarely accepted in its raw, unedited form.

As a character, Fannie is a loving and dedicated person who experiences many complicated relationships. Her experience during the Holocaust allows her to meet two kind and courageous women who risk their lives to save hers. While there is no doubt that Fannie experiences several horrors and suffers greatly, her journey highlights the bravery and kindness of those who were persecuted for helping the victims and survivors of the Holocaust. This unique perspective portrays a world split between those who were brave enough to help and those who remained bystanders. Fannie’s experience after the war also provides insight into the ways that the Holocaust continues to impact survivors and their relationships.

Toward the end of the novel, Fannie dedicates herself to finding Nico. She also leaves Sebastian, who has become obsessed with finding escaped Nazis and bringing them to justice. When Fannie finds Nico, she stays by his side, trying to understand why he tells so many lies. After Nico’s death on the train platform in Salonika, Fannie discovers his films and uses them to retell his story in the form of The Little Liar. Fannie is also responsible for killing Udo Graf as he is extradited back to Germany, where he would have likely escaped or received scant punishment. The end of Fannie’s story occurs when she reveals that she has omitted the truth of her identity and that she is Truth, the narrator. This moment functions as another piece of evidence that highlights the complex nature of the truth.

Sebastian is one of the protagonists of The Little Liar. He is Nico’s older brother and is jealous of the extra attention that the family gives the young Nico. He also suspects Nico of harboring affection for Fannie, whom Sebastian has romantic feelings for. After being forced onto the trains to Auschwitz, Sebastian blames Nico for his part in the affair. In an attempt to save Fannie, he pushes her out of the train. At Auschwitz, Sebastian shows his strength and resilience while Udo Graf constantly torments him and gives him horrifying jobs. He loses every member of his family and harbors a lifetime of anger for Nico, whom he blames for their family’s deaths. After the war, he seeks justice against those who perpetuated the genocide of his community.

Sebastian highlights The Complexity of Human Relationships. His relationship with Nico is poisoned with jealousy and blame, but as Nico states his truth while he lies dying, Sebastian releases his resentment and forgives his brother. His relationship with Fannie, whom he marries after the war, is also complicated by the jealousy he has retained since childhood and his unprocessed trauma from his experience at Auschwitz. Unlike Fannie, he is unable to move on and becomes obsessed with gaining some form of justice. He moves his family to Vienna against his wife’s wishes to join the famed Nazi Hunter in his efforts to find escaped SS officers. His obsession ultimately causes Fannie to leave him, but he is eventually able to expose Udo’s false identity and force him to flee to Italy. Sebastian’s story ends with his forgiveness of Nico and Udo’s arrest.