BEHRMAN_NP0 READS_VVZ ABOUT_PRP EXTERMINATION_NN1 ,_PUN 1933_CRD –_PUN 34_CRD 
Behrman_NP0 's_POS engagement_NN1 with_PRP a_AT0 print_NN1 public_AJ0 sphere_NN1 as_PRP reader_NN1 and_CJC writer_NN1 shaped_VVD the_AT0 play_NN1 :_PUN his_DPS unpublished_AJ0 diaries_NN2 point_NN1 to_PRP a_AT0 literature_NN1 of_PRF extermination_NN1 long_AV0 before_PRP the_AT0 war_NN1 began_VVD ._SENT The_AT0 New_AJ0 York_NP0 Times_NN2 anchored_VVD Behrman_NP0 's_POS public_AJ0 sphere_NN1 ;_PUN satellites_NN2 included_VVD the_AT0 Nation_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 New_AJ0 Republic_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 Saturday_NP0 Evening_NN1 Post_NN1 ,_PUN Time_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC Harper_NP0 's_POS ,_PUN all_DT0 of_PRF which_DTQ Berhman_NP0 read_VVD regularly_AV0 ._SENT Berhman_NP0 's_POS note_NN1 "_PUQ read_VVD the_AT0 papers_NN2 "_PUQ is_VBZ a_AT0 frequent_AJ0 diary_NN1 entry_NN1 ._SENT Meanwhile_AV0 ,_PUN in_PRP the_AT0 few_DT0 years_NN2 leading_VVG up_AVP to_PRP the_AT0 winter_NN1 of_PRF 1934_CRD ,_PUN Behrman_NP0 socialized_VVD with_PRP Sonya_NP0 Levien_NP0 ,_PUN Harold_NP0 Laski_NP0 ,_PUN Ernst_NP0 Lubitsch_NP0 ,_PUN Harpo_NP0 Marx_NP0 ,_PUN Claire_NP0 Trevor_NP0 ,_PUN Eddie_NP0 Cantor_NP0 ,_PUN Felix_NP0 Frankfurter_NP0 ,_PUN John_NP0 Maynard_NP0 Keynes_NP0 ,_PUN Lydia_NP0 Lopokova_NP0 ,_PUN and_CJC many_DT0 others_NN2 ._SENT Rudolf_NP0 Kommer_NP0 and_CJC Salka_NP0 Viertel_NP0 kept_VVD Behrman_NP0 informed_VVD about_PRP German_AJ0 emigrees_NN2 ._SENT One_CRD entry_NN1 typifies_VVZ Behrman_NP0 's_POS chronicle_NN1 of_PRF social_AJ0 life_NN1 punctuated_VVN by_PRP reading_NN1 ,_PUN writ-_AJ0 ing_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC world_NN1 crisis_NN1 :_PUN "_PUQ read_VVD Sunday_NP0 papers_NN2 ,_PUN Hitler_NP0 whom_PNQ I_PNP hope_VVB to_TO0 live_VVI to_TO0 see_VVI rejected_VVN of_PRF men_NN2 ,_PUN to_PRP Harpo_NP0 for_PRP dinner_NN1 whence_AVQ I_PNP have_VHB just_AV0 come_VVN "_PUQ (_PUL Papers_NN2 b_ZZ0 ._SENT 28_CRD ,_PUN f.13_CRD ,_PUN 18_CRD April_NP0 1933_CRD ,_PUN p._NN0 252_CRD )_PUR ._SENT (_PUL A_AT0 similar_AJ0 mixture_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 comic_AJ0 and_CJC horrific_AJ0 sur-_NN1 faced_VVN in_PRP a_AT0 "_PUQ [_PUL h_ZZ0 ]_PUR orrible_AJ0 dream_NN1 about_PRP Hitler_NP0 :_PUN had_VHD written_VVN something_PNI adverse_AJ0 to_PRP Nazis_NN2 he_PNP got_VVD me_PNP out_AVP of_PRF a_AT0 seat_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 theatre_NN1 &_NN1 walked_VVD me_PNP out_AVP very_AV0 amiable_AJ0 &_NN1 charming_AJ0 saying_NN1 :_PUN You_PNP ought_VM0 to_TO0 write_VVI –_PUN you_PNP have_VHB talent_NN1 !_SENT "_PUQ [_PUL Papers_NN2 b_ZZ0 ._SENT 29_CRD ,_PUN f_ZZ0 ._SENT 1_CRD ,_PUN 4_CRD March_NP0 1934_CRD ,_PUN p._NN0 143_CRD ]_PUR ._SENT )_PUR Behrman_NP0 was_VBD accustomed_VVN to_PRP soirées_NN2 with_PRP celebrities_NN2 and_CJC to_PRP reading_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC yet_AV0 he_PNP catalogued_VVD the_AT0 guests_NN2 at_PRP parties_NN2 and_CJC the_AT0 newspapers_NN2 ,_PUN magazine_NN1 articles_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC books_NN2 he_PNP read_VVB ._SENT 
Fittingly_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 idea_NN1 for_PRP "_PUQ The_AT0 Last_ORD Jew_NN1 "_PUQ came_VVD to_PRP Behrman_NP0 at_PRP a_AT0 party_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC an_AT0 article_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 Times_NN2 provided_VVD material_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 play_NN1 's_POS plot_NN1 ._SENT Less_AV0 than_CJS a_AT0 week_NN1 after_PRP the_AT0 New_AJ0 York_NP0 opening_NN1 of_PRF Rain_NN1 from_PRP Heaven_NN1 ,_PUN Behrman_NP0 published_VVD an_AT0 article_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 Times_NN2 describing_VVG his_DPS source_NN1 ,_PUN a_AT0 short_AJ0 memoir_NN1 by_PRP the_AT0 German_AJ0 drama_NN1 critic_NN1 ,_PUN Alfred_NP0 Kerr_NP0 (_PUL Behrman_NP0 ,_PUN "_PUQ In_PRP Behalf_NN1 "_PUQ )_PUR :_PUN Kerr_NP0 's_POS piece_NN1 ,_PUN too_AV0 ,_PUN had_VHD been_VBN published_VVN in_PRP the_AT0 Times_NN2 (_PUL Kerr_NP0 )_PUR ._SENT Roughly_AV0 a_AT0 week_NN1 after_PRP Behrman_NP0 wrote_VVD about_PRP Kerr_NP0 ,_PUN Brooks_NP0 Atkinson_NP0 ,_PUN who_PNQ had_VHD already_AV0 reviewed_VVN the_AT0 play_NN1 ,_PUN published_VVD a_AT0 second_ORD piece_NN1 about_PRP Rain_NN1 from_PRP Heaven_NN1 (_PUL "_PUQ Mercy_NN1 for_PRP Moderns_NP0 "_PUQ )_PUR ._SENT Behrman_NP0 wrote_VVD for_PRP an_AT0 audience_NN1 who_PNQ would_VM0 read_VVI his_DPS account_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 genesis_NN1 of_PRF his_DPS play_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 pages_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 paper_NN1 in_PRP which_DTQ he_PNP had_VHD discovered_VVN an_AT0 important_AJ0 source_NN1 for_PRP it_PNP ._SENT Behrman_NP0 assumed_VVD an_AT0 audience_NN1 of_PRF readers_NN2 in_PRP a_AT0 particularly_AV0 delimited_AJ0 print_NN1 public_AJ0 sphere_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC he_PNP as-_AJ0 sumed_NN1 that_CJT many_DT0 of_PRF these_DT0 readers_NN2 also_AV0 went_VVD to_PRP the_AT0 theatre_NN1 ._SENT His_DPS diary_NN1 includes_VVZ a_AT0 remarkable_AJ0 note_NN1 on_PRP this_DT0 connection_NN1 between_PRP writing_VVG and_CJC reading_VVG :_PUN "_PUQ Great_AJ0 urge_NN1 to_TO0 write_VVI a_AT0 messianic_AJ0 last_ORD act_NN1 !_SENT And_CJC to_TO0 read_VVI everything_PNI –_PUN the_AT0 passion_NN1 all_DT0 over_PRP again_AV0 the_AT0 minute_NN1 I_PNP read_VVD anything_PNI !_SENT "_PUQ (_PUL Papers_NN2 b_ZZ0 ._SENT 29_CRD ,_PUN f_ZZ0 ._SENT 2_CRD ,_PUN 6_CRD May_NP0 1934_CRD ,_PUN p._NN0 15_CRD )_PUR ._SENT This_DT0 loop_NN1 through_PRP the_AT0 Times_NN2 illustrates_VVZ the_AT0 reciprocity_NN1 between_PRP his_DPS writing_NN1 and_CJC reading_NN1 ;_PUN Behrman_NP0 's_POS messianism_NN1 will_VM0 emerge_VVI below_AV0 ._SENT 
The_AT0 assumption_NN1 that_CJT future_AJ0 genocide_NN1 was_VBD unimaginable_AJ0 before_PRP World_NN1 War_NN1 II_CRD is_VBZ false_AJ0 ,_PUN at_PRP least_AV0 where_CJS the_AT0 English-language_AJ0 press_NN1 in_PRP 1933_CRD and_CJC 1934_CRD is_VBZ concerned_AJ0 ._SENT Writers_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 early_AJ0 1930s_CRD regularly_AV0 anticipated_AJ0 genocide_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 near_AJ0 future_NN1 ._SENT Further_AV0 ,_PUN Willens_NP0 's_POS fictional_AJ0 pamphlet_NN1 describes_VVZ with_PRP accuracy_NN1 the_AT0 centrality_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 figure_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Jew_NN1 to_PRP Nazi_AJ0 ideology_NN1 and_CJC anticipates_VVZ the_AT0 sheer_AJ0 bureaucratic_AJ0 efficiency_NN1 behind_PRP the_AT0 "_PUQ extermination_NN1 "_PUQ of_PRF Europe_NP0 's_POS Jews_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 first_ORD of_PRF these_DT0 points_NN2 is_VBZ now_AV0 less_AV0 startling_AJ0 than_CJS the_AT0 second_NN1 ._SENT Behrman_NP0 ,_PUN however_AV0 ,_PUN en-_NN1 countered_VVD both_AV0 in_PRP his_DPS reading_NN1 :_PUN many_DT0 commentators_NN2 saw_VVD wars_NN2 of_PRF extermina-_AJ0 tion_NN1 as_PRP a_AT0 likely_AJ0 consequence_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Nazi_AJ0 rise_NN1 to_PRP power_NN1 ._SENT Some_DT0 of_PRF these_DT0 writers_NN2 may_VM0 also_AV0 have_VHI read_VVN Mein_NP0 Kampf_NP0 in_PRP German_AJ0 or_CJC in_PRP the_AT0 English_AJ0 translation_NN1 published_VVN in_PRP 1933._CRD 
Behrman_NP0 's_POS reading_NN1 in_PRP 1933_CRD and_CJC 1934_CRD included_VVD a_AT0 number_NN1 of_PRF acute_AJ0 analyses_NN2 of_PRF Nazism_NN1 's_POS need_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 demonized_AJ0 figure_NN1 of_PRF "_PUQ the_AT0 Jew_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ The_AT0 critic_NN1 Ludwig_NP0 Lewisohn_NP0 ,_PUN for_PRP instance_NN1 ,_PUN in_PRP what_DTQ Behrman_NP0 judges_VVZ "_PUQ a_AT0 superb_AJ0 article_NN1 "_PUQ (_PUL Papers_NN2 b_ZZ0 ._SENT 29_CRD ,_PUN f_ZZ0 ._SENT 1_CRD ,_PUN 28_CRD July_NP0 1933_CRD ,_PUN p._NN0 17_CRD )_PUR ,_PUN describes_VVZ Germany_NP0 's_POS "_PUQ pagan_AJ0 revolt_NN1 "_PUQ and_CJC its_DPS target_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 Jew_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ the_AT0 symbol_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 free_AJ0 personality_NN1 alone_AV0 with_PRP its_DPS God_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ "_PUQ the_AT0 symbol_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 critical_AJ0 intelligence_NN1 "_PUQ :_PUN "_PUQ If_CJS the_AT0 Jews_NN2 were_VBD not_XX0 there_AV0 to_TO0 be_VBI tortured_VVN ,_PUN upon_PRP what_DTQ symbolical_AJ0 object_NN1 could_VM0 the_AT0 '_PUQ holy_AJ0 madness_NN1 '_POS wreak_VVB its_DPS self-justificatory_AJ0 pagan_AJ0 rage_NN1 ?_SENT "_PUQ (_PUL Lewisohn_NP0 276_CRD )_PUR ._SENT Though_CJS the_AT0 theological_AJ0 turn_NN1 in_PRP Lewisohn_NP0 's_POS in-_AJ0 terpretation_NN1 of_PRF Nazism_NN1 might_VM0 have_VHI been_VBN unusual_AJ0 ,_PUN related_AJ0 analyses_NN2 were_VBD not_XX0 uncommon_AJ0 ._SENT Mary_NP0 Heaton_NP0 Vorse_NP0 ,_PUN activist_NN1 and_CJC co-founder_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Province-_AJ0 town_NN1 Players_NN2 ,_PUN wrote_VVD after_PRP a_AT0 visit_NN1 to_PRP Germany_NP0 that_CJT "_PUQ the_AT0 Jew_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 minds_NN2 of_PRF Hitler_NP0 and_CJC his_DPS followers_NN2 is_VBZ a_AT0 cancer_NN1 on_PRP the_AT0 body_NN1 politic_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ Vorse_NP0 realized_VVD the_AT0 implication_NN1 of_PRF this_DT0 metaphor_NN1 :_PUN the_AT0 Jew_NN1 "_PUQ is_VBZ a_AT0 disease_NN1 ,_PUN to_TO0 be_VBI treated_VVN as_PRP such_DT0 and_CJC to_TO0 be_VBI got_VVN rid_VVN of_PRF "_PUQ (_PUL 256_CRD ;_PUN see_VVB Behrman_NP0 ,_PUN Papers_NN2 b_ZZ0 ._SENT 26_CRD ,_PUN f_ZZ0 ._SENT 1_CRD ,_PUN 26_CRD July_NP0 1933_CRD ,_PUN p._NN0 17_CRD )_PUR ._SENT To_TO0 get_VVI "_PUQ rid_VVN of_PRF "_PUQ this_DT0 "_PUQ cancer_NN1 "_PUQ could_VM0 describe_VVI the_AT0 forced_AJ0 immigrations_NN2 and_CJC im-_AJ0 poverishment_NN1 of_PRF what_DTQ Vorse_NP0 twice_AV0 calls_VVZ the_AT0 "_PUQ cold_AJ0 pogrom_NN1 "_PUQ of_PRF 1933_CRD (_PUL 255_CRD ,_PUN 256_CRD )_PUR ._SENT Intimations_NN2 of_PRF extermination_NN1 were_VBD ,_PUN however_AV0 ,_PUN also_AV0 audible_AJ0 ._SENT 
Willens_NP0 's_POS parable_NN1 allegorizes_VVZ this_DT0 necessity_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 last_ORD Jew_NN1 's_POS survival_NN1 as_PRP the_AT0 real_AJ0 object_NN1 of_PRF Nazi_AJ0 ideology_NN1 :_PUN the_AT0 Nazis_NN2 will_VM0 always_AV0 need_VVI the_AT0 Jew_NN1 as_PRP barrier_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 "_PUQ millennium_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ But_CJC the_AT0 more_AV0 startling_AJ0 aspect_NN1 of_PRF Willens_NP0 's_POS pamphlet_NN1 is_VBZ not_XX0 its_DPS analysis_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 importance_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Jew_NN1 to_PRP Nazi_AJ0 ideology_NN1 but_CJC its_DPS prediction_NN1 of_PRF all_DT0 but_CJC total_AJ0 genocide_NN1 ._SENT Is_VBZ there_EX0 any_DT0 similarly_AV0 straightforward_AJ0 prediction_NN1 of_PRF this_DT0 possibility_NN1 elsewhere_AV0 ?_SENT 14_CRD Again_AV0 ,_PUN Behrman_NP0 's_POS reading_NN1 shows_VVZ that_CJT he_PNP was_VBD not_XX0 alone_AJ0 in_PRP picturing_VVG genocidal_AJ0 possibilities_NN2 ._SENT Lewisohn_NP0 ,_PUN in_PRP the_AT0 article_NN1 quoted_VVD above_AV0 ,_PUN realizes_VVZ the_AT0 implications_NN2 of_PRF Nazi_AJ0 racial_AJ0 thought_NN1 and_CJC fears_VVZ that_CJT the_AT0 "_PUQ pa-_AJ0 gan_NN1 attack_NN1 upon_PRP the_AT0 very_AJ0 roots_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 Judeo-Christian_AJ0 ethical_AJ0 and_CJC humane_AJ0 tradition_NN1 "_PUQ (_PUL 276_CRD )_PUR would_VM0 result_VVI in_PRP the_AT0 crucifixion_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Jew_NN1 :_PUN "_PUQ They_PNP have_VHB begun_VVN ._SENT The_AT0 scapegoat_NN1 is_VBZ being_VBG slain_VVN ;_PUN the_AT0 Jew_NN1 is_VBZ crucified_VVN "_PUQ (_PUL 281_CRD )_PUR ._SENT In_PRP a_AT0 discussion_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Versailles_NP0 treaty_NN1 's_POS limitations_NN2 on_PRP German_AJ0 power_NN1 ,_PUN Lewisohn_NP0 asks_VVZ ,_PUN "_PUQ Who_PNQ would_VM0 dare_VVI to_TO0 favor_VVI equality_NN1 of_PRF armaments_NN2 for_PRP a_AT0 nation_NN1 fanatically_AV0 convinced_VVD that_CJT it_PNP would_VM0 be_VBI helping_VVG to_TO0 save_VVI the_AT0 world_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 savior_AJ0 race_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Germans_NN2 to_PRP '_POS gas_NN1 in_PRP '_POS (_PUL einzugasen_AJ0 )_PUR foreign_AJ0 provinces_NN2 and_CJC exterminate_AJ0 life_NN1 where_CJS inferior_AJ0 races_NN2 live_VVB and_CJC then_AV0 replace_VVB them_PNP ?_SENT "_PUQ (_PUL 282_CRD )_PUR ._SENT Lewisohn_NP0 's_POS unusual_AJ0 English_AJ0 phrase_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT0 translation_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 rare_AJ0 German_AJ0 word_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC both_AV0 foresee_VVB the_AT0 transformation_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 gas_NN1 warfare_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 trenches_NN2 into_PRP a_AT0 tool_NN1 of_PRF extermination_NN1 ._SENT Lewisohn_NP0 saw_VVD the_AT0 war_NN1 against_PRP Jews_NN2 as_PRP one_CRD of_PRF several_DT0 racial_AJ0 wars_NN2 in_PRP which_DTQ Germany_NP0 's_POS pursuit_NN1 of_PRF Lebensraum_NN1 would_VM0 spell_VVI mass_AJ0 death_NN1 ._SENT Behrman_NP0 also_AV0 notes_VVZ a_AT0 "_PUQ brilliant_AJ0 article_NN1 "_PUQ by_PRP Leon_NP0 Trotsky_NP0 (_PUL Papers_NN2 b_ZZ0 ._SENT 29_CRD ,_PUN f_ZZ0 ._SENT 1_CRD ,_PUN 27_CRD August_NP0 1933_CRD ,_PUN p._NN0 31_CRD )_PUR ._SENT Trotsky_NP0 predicts_VVZ the_AT0 Nazi_AJ0 push_NN1 into_PRP Poland_NP0 and_CJC other_AJ0 Eastern_AJ0 European_AJ0 countries_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC observes_VVZ that_CJT the_AT0 Nazis_NN2 "_PUQ prefer_VVB the_AT0 extermination_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 conquered_AJ0 '_PUQ inferior_AJ0 '_PUQ peoples_NN2 to_PRP their_DPS Germanization_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ arguing_VVG that_CJT "_PUQ [_PUL t_ZZ0 ]_PUR he_PNP whole_AJ0 historical_AJ0 philosophy_NN1 of_PRF National-Socialism_NN1 proceeds_NN2 from_PRP the_AT0 supposedly_AV0 fundamental_AJ0 inequality_NN1 of_PRF nations_NN2 and_CJC the_AT0 right_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 '_PUQ superior_AJ0 '_PUQ races_NN2 to_TO0 trample_VVI upon_PRP and_CJC to_PRP extir-_AJ0 pate_NN1 the_AT0 '_PUQ inferior_AJ0 '_PUQ races_NN2 "_PUQ (_PUL 387_CRD )_PUR ._SENT Extermination_NN1 ,_PUN extirpation_NN1 :_PUN Trotsky_NP0 pictures_NN2 a_AT0 whole_AJ0 set_NN1 of_PRF genocides_NN2 ,_PUN not_XX0 limited_AJ0 to_PRP that_DT0 of_PRF the_AT0 Jews_NN2 ._SENT 
Willens_NP0 's_POS word_NN1 extermination_NN1 also_AV0 appears_VVZ in_PRP an_AT0 address_NN1 by_PRP Samuel_NP0 Unter-_AJ0 myer_NN1 broadcast_VVN over_PRP WABC_NP0 radio_NN1 in_PRP New_NP0 York_NP0 on_PRP 6_CRD August_NP0 1933_CRD ,_PUN the_AT0 text_NN1 of_PRF which_DTQ appeared_VVD in_PRP the_AT0 Times_NN2 ._SENT Untermyer_NP0 predicts_VVZ that_CJT the_AT0 world_NN1 will_VM0 confront_VVI a_AT0 picture_NN1 so_AV0 fearful_AJ0 in_PRP its_DPS barbarous_AJ0 cruelty_NN1 that_CJT the_AT0 hell_NN1 of_PRF war_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 alleged_AJ0 Belgian_AJ0 atrocities_NN2 will_VM0 pale_AJ0 into_PRP insignificance_NN1 as_CJS compared_VVN to_PRP this_DT0 devilishly_AV0 ,_PUN deliberately_AV0 ,_PUN cold-bloodedly_AV0 planned_VVN and_CJC already_AV0 partially_AV0 executed_VVN campaign_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 extermination_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 proud_AJ0 ,_PUN gentle_AJ0 ,_PUN loyal_AJ0 ,_PUN law-abiding_AJ0 people_NN0 ._SENT (_PUL "_PUQ Text_NN1 "_PUQ 4_CRD )_PUR 
In_PRP The_AT0 Coming_AJ0 Struggle_NN1 for_PRP Power_NN1 ,_PUN John_NP0 Strachey_NP0 similarly_AV0 foresees_VVZ an_AT0 era_NN1 of_PRF vicious_AJ0 wars_NN2 :_PUN "_PUQ Some_DT0 defeated_AJ0 nations_NN2 may_VM0 well_AV0 be_VBI exterminated_VVN en_NP0 bloc_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 concluding_AJ0 phases_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 contest_NN1 "_PUQ (_PUL 255_CRD )_PUR ._SENT In_PRP this_DT0 book_NN1 ,_PUN Strachey_NP0 underestimates_VVZ the_AT0 force_NN1 of_PRF Nazi_AJ0 anti-Semitism_NN1 and_CJC describes_VVZ "_PUQ kill_VVB the_AT0 Jews_NN2 "_PUQ as_PRP rhetoric_NN1 used_VVN to_TO0 "_PUQ catch_VVI shopkeepers_NN2 "_PUQ (_PUL 266_CRD )_PUR ._SENT In_PRP another_DT0 work_NN1 from_PRP the_AT0 same_DT0 year_NN1 ,_PUN The_AT0 Men-_AJ0 ace_NN1 of_PRF Fascism_NN1 ,_PUN however_AV0 ,_PUN Strachey_NP0 emphasizes_VVZ Nazi_AJ0 persecution_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Jews_NN2 and_CJC begins_VVZ with_PRP a_AT0 relevant_AJ0 montage_NN1 of_PRF passages_NN2 from_PRP the_AT0 English_AJ0 press_NN1 ._SENT Extermi-_AJ0 nation_NN1 as_PRP a_AT0 likely_AJ0 consequence_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 newly_AV0 militant_AJ0 Germany_NP0 's_POS expansion_NN1 was_VBD ,_PUN then_AV0 ,_PUN widely_AV0 feared_VVN ._SENT Few_DT0 distilled_VVD these_DT0 fears_NN2 into_PRP so_AV0 astonishing_AJ0 a_AT0 scenario_NN1 as_CJS did_VDD Behrman_NP0 ,_PUN but_CJC the_AT0 threat_NN1 of_PRF extermination_NN1 was_VBD the_AT0 subject_NN1 of_PRF widespread_AJ0 apprehension_NN1 ._SENT 
ARGUMENTS_NN2 ABOUT_PRP MASS_AJ0 DEATH_NN1 :_PUN READING_VVG THE_AT0 JOKE_NN1 
Behrman_NP0 's_POS career_NN1 was_VBD distinctly_AV0 middlebrow_NN1 ._SENT David_NP0 Savran_NP0 has_VHZ argued_VVN for_PRP the_AT0 concept_NN1 's_POS usefulness_NN1 for_PRP understanding_VVG American_AJ0 theatre_NN1 ,_PUN which_DTQ occupies_VVZ an_AT0 "_PUQ impossible_AJ0 conjunction_NN1 "_PUQ (_PUL 17_CRD )_PUR ,_PUN simultaneously_AV0 seeking_VVG political_AJ0 efficacy_NN1 ,_PUN moral_AJ0 responsibility_NN1 ,_PUN commercial_AJ0 success_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC cultural_AJ0 respectability_NN1 ._SENT Rain_NN1 from_PRP Heaven_NN1 occupies_VVZ that_CJT "_PUQ impossible_AJ0 conjunction_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ Behrman_NP0 made_VVD his_DPS high_AJ0 comedy_NN1 the_AT0 vehicle_NN1 of_PRF his_DPS protest_NN1 against_PRP Nazi_AJ0 racial_AJ0 ideology_NN1 ._SENT One_PNI might_VM0 object_VVI that_CJT this_DT0 met_VVD a_AT0 demand_NN1 for_PRP a_AT0 fillip_NN1 of_PRF unobjectionable_AJ0 political_AJ0 content_NN1 ._SENT 
One_PNI might_VM0 also_AV0 say_VVI ,_PUN however_AV0 ,_PUN that_CJT the_AT0 horizon_NN1 of_PRF fulfilment_NN1 would_VM0 have_VHI been_VBN a_AT0 future_NN1 in_PRP which_DTQ our_DPS past_NN1 would_VM0 be_VBI unrecognizable_AJ0 ._SENT Had_VHD Behrman_NP0 's_POS comedy_NN1 functioned_VVD as_PRP a_AT0 successful_AJ0 warning_NN1 against_PRP the_AT0 extermination_NN1 he_PNP predicted_VVD ,_PUN history_NN1 would_VM0 be_VBI utterly_AV0 different_AJ0 ._SENT The_AT0 idea_NN1 is_VBZ grandiose_AJ0 ,_PUN but_CJC only_AV0 as_CJS gran-_AJ0 diose_NN1 as_PRP the_AT0 aspirations_NN2 of_PRF that_DT0 contradictory_AJ0 middlebrow_NN1 culture_NN1 Behrman_NP0 embodied_VVD ._SENT 
For_PRP Behrman_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 question_NN1 of_PRF how_AVQ to_TO0 respond_VVI to_PRP the_AT0 threat_NN1 of_PRF "_PUQ Hitlerism_NN1 "_PUQ was_VBD an_AT0 urgent_AJ0 one_PNI ._SENT He_PNP imagined_VVD that_DT0 Rain_NN1 from_PRP Heaven_NN1 might_VM0 contribute_VVI to_PRP the_AT0 undoing_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 threat_NN1 of_PRF extermination_NN1 the_AT0 play_NN1 predicted_VVN ._SENT These_DT0 hopes_NN2 are_VBB vivid_AJ0 in_PRP his_DPS account_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 genesis_NN1 of_PRF Rain_NN1 from_PRP Heaven_NN1 published_VVN in_PRP the_AT0 New_AJ0 York_NP0 Times_NN2 on_PRP 30_CRD December_NP0 1934_CRD ,_PUN a_AT0 week_NN1 after_PRP the_AT0 New_AJ0 York_NP0 opening_NN1 ._SENT This_DT0 account_NN1 focuses_VVZ on_PRP the_AT0 story_NN1 of_PRF Alfred_NP0 Kerr_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 powerful_AJ0 German_AJ0 critic_NN1 who_PNQ provided_VVD Behrman_NP0 's_POS model_NN1 for_PRP Willens_NP0 ._SENT Kerr_NP0 ,_PUN one_CRD of_PRF the_AT0 most_AV0 influen-_AJ0 tial_AJ0 theatre_NN1 critics_NN2 of_PRF Weimar_NP0 Germany_NP0 ,_PUN went_VVD into_PRP exile_NN1 with_PRP the_AT0 Nazi_AJ0 seizure_NN1 of_PRF power_NN1 in_PRP 1933._CRD Behrman_NP0 was_VBD especially_AV0 troubled_VVN by_PRP the_AT0 playwright_NN1 Gerhart_NP0 Hauptmann_NP0 's_POS repudiation_NN1 of_PRF Kerr_NP0 ._SENT Kerr_NP0 had_VHD long_AV0 been_VBN an_AT0 important_AJ0 advocate_NN1 of_PRF Hauptmann_NP0 's_POS work_NN1 ,_PUN whose_DTQ The_AT0 Weavers_NN2 (_PUL 1892_CRD )_PUR ,_PUN with_PRP its_DPS sympathetic_AJ0 treat-_AJ0 ment_NN1 of_PRF working-class_AJ0 revolt_NN1 ,_PUN provided_CJS a_AT0 monument_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 history_NN1 of_PRF political_AJ0 drama_NN1 ._SENT Kerr_NP0 did_VDD not_XX0 ,_PUN as_CJS Behrman_NP0 puts_VVZ it_PNP ,_PUN "_PUQ measure_VVB up_AVP to_PRP the_AT0 new_AJ0 standardi-_AJ0 zation_NN1 "_PUQ (_PUL "_PUQ In_PRP Behalf_NN1 "_PUQ X3_NN1 )_PUR ,_PUN which_DTQ Hauptmann_NP0 ,_PUN a_AT0 Nazi_AJ0 sympathizer_NN1 ,_PUN supported_VVN ._SENT 
In_PRP the_AT0 Times_NN2 piece_NN1 ,_PUN Behrman_NP0 imagines_VVZ a_AT0 meeting_NN1 between_PRP the_AT0 two_CRD men_NN2 in_PRP "_PUQ the_AT0 great_AJ0 man_NN1 's_POS quiet_AJ0 study_NN1 "_PUQ as_PRP "_PUQ an_AT0 essential_AJ0 conflict_NN1 "_PUQ :_PUN 
There_AV0 they_PNP were_VBD ,_PUN these_DT0 two_CRD men_NN2 ,_PUN two_CRD artists_NN2 ,_PUN two_CRD civilized_AJ0 men_NN2 ,_PUN two_CRD essences_NN2 of_PRF what_DTQ the_AT0 race_NN1 might_VM0 hope_VVI to_TO0 be_VBI –_PUN the_AT0 author_NN1 of_PRF "_PUQ The_AT0 Weavers_NN2 "_PUQ and_CJC the_AT0 author_NN1 of_PRF an_AT0 exquisite_AJ0 poem_NN1 in_PRP which_DTQ a_AT0 man_NN1 mourns_VVZ the_AT0 untimely_AJ0 passing_NN1 of_PRF another_DT0 artist_NN1 who_PNQ might_VM0 have_VHI become_VVN a_AT0 friend_NN1 ._SENT [_PUL ..._PUN ]_PUR Here_AV0 ,_PUN in_PRP a_AT0 clear_AJ0 vapor_NN1 ,_PUN might_VM0 rise_VVI an_AT0 emanation_NN1 so_AV0 distilled_AJ0 and_CJC powerful_AJ0 that_CJT miraculously_AV0 it_PNP might_VM0 de-lethalize_VVI those_DT0 other_AJ0 and_CJC headier_AJC exhalations_NN2 from_PRP the_AT0 test-tubes_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 poison_NN1 gas_NN1 chemists_NN2 and_CJC from_PRP the_AT0 heated_AJ0 breaths_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 demagogues_NN2 ._SENT Because_CJS if_CJS not_XX0 from_PRP this_DT0 room_NN1 ,_PUN from_PRP where_AVQ else_AV0 ?_SENT That_CJT it_PNP did_VDD not_XX0 come_VVI –_PUN this_DT0 for_PRP me_PNP –_PUN was_VBD essential_AJ0 tragedy_NN1 ._SENT (_PUL "_PUQ In_PRP Behalf_NN1 "_PUQ X3_NN1 )_PUR 
The_AT0 otherwise_AV0 slightly_AV0 redundant_AJ0 sequence_NN1 –_PUN "_PUQ two_CRD men_NN2 ,_PUN two_CRD artists_NN2 ,_PUN two_CRD civ-_AJ0 ilized_AJ0 men_NN2 "_PUQ –_PUN economically_AV0 suggests_VVZ that_CJT art_NN1 civilizes_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC this_DT0 suggestion_NN1 is_VBZ crucial_AJ0 to_PRP the_AT0 episode_NN1 's_POS despair_NN1 over_PRP what_DTQ art_NN1 should_VM0 do_VDI for_PRP the_AT0 "_PUQ race_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ a_AT0 term_NN1 that_CJT oscillates_VVZ here_AV0 uneasily_AV0 between_PRP national_AJ0 and_CJC universal_AJ0 connotations_NN2 ._SENT In_PRP Behrman_NP0 's_POS fantasy_NN1 of_PRF political_AJ0 efficacy_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 encounter_NN1 of_PRF Kerr_NP0 and_CJC Hauptmann_NP0 should_VM0 have_VHI produced_VVN the_AT0 "_PUQ clear_AJ0 vapor_NN1 "_PUQ of_PRF a_AT0 miraculous_AJ0 antidote_NN1 to_PRP hot_AJ0 po-_AJ0 litical_AJ0 plagues_NN2 :_PUN this_DT0 alchemical_AJ0 enlightenment_NN1 is_VBZ itself_PNX an_AT0 etherealized_AJ0 faith_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 aesthetic_AJ0 ._SENT The_AT0 phrase_NN1 "_PUQ poison_NN1 gas_NN1 chemists_NN2 "_PUQ resonates_VVZ powerfully_AV0 after_PRP the_AT0 Holocaust_NP0 ._SENT Behrman_NP0 ,_PUN like_PRP Lewisohn_NP0 ,_PUN intuited_VVD that_CJT that_DT0 an_AT0 echo_NN1 from_PRP the_AT0 trenches_NN2 of_PRF World_NN1 War_NN1 I_PNP captured_VVD a_AT0 lethal_AJ0 future_NN1 threat_NN1 ,_PUN a_AT0 chemical_AJ0 analogue_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 poisonous_AJ0 words_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 unnamed_AJ0 Hitler_NP0 and_CJC other_AJ0 "_PUQ demagogues_NN2 ._SENT "_PUQ This_DT0 critique_NN1 of_PRF demagoguery_NN1 leads_VVZ to_PRP a_AT0 contempt_NN1 for_PRP crowds_NN2 and_CJC masses_NN2 that_DT0 is_VBZ the_AT0 obverse_NN1 of_PRF Behrman_NP0 's_POS emphasis_NN1 on_PRP an_AT0 encounter_NN1 between_PRP individuals_NN2 :_PUN "_PUQ For_PRP the_AT0 mob_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT0 same_DT0 in_PRP nearly_AV0 all_DT0 countries_NN2 whether_CJS it_PNP engages_VVZ in_PRP a_AT0 pogrom_NN1 in_PRP Rus-_AJ0 sia_NN1 ,_PUN an_AT0 Armenian_AJ0 massacre_NN1 in_PRP Turkey_NP0 ,_PUN a_AT0 book-fire_NN1 in_PRP Germany_NP0 ,_PUN a_AT0 lynching-bee_NN1 in_PRP America_NP0 "_PUQ (_PUL "_PUQ In_PRP Behalf_NN1 "_PUQ X3_NN1 )_PUR ._SENT Mobs_NN2 ,_PUN Behrman_NP0 argues_VVZ ,_PUN have_VHB no_AT0 interest_NN1 :_PUN "_PUQ [_PUL T_ZZ0 ]_PUR hey_ITJ may_VM0 be_VBI reduced_VVN to_PRP the_AT0 generalizations_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 crowd-psychologist_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ 
