The Tin Drum

“Granted: I'm an inmate in a mental institution.”

Oskar's introduction to the audience is a concession. He knows that his role as the narrator of the story may be undermined by his current status as an “inmate in a mental institution” (9) but, like so much in Oskar's life, he has no option other than to simply carry on regardless. Oskar's opening line strikes an accord with the reader, establishing his role as being a narrator of dubious reliability but one who is very aware of his reliability and his role. This line also touches on the themes of sanity, culpability, and trauma that will play key roles throughout the novel.

“What novel has the epic scope of a photo album?”

Oskar is in the process of writing a novel about his entire life while, at the same time, pointing out the limitations of the novel as an artistic form. He acknowledges the inherent impossibility of the task ahead, understanding that the novel cannot hope to portray the vast complexities of life. A photo album is presented as an alternative with a more “epic scope” (33), but Oskar's actions speak louder than his words: He continues to write the novel, even while acknowledging its limitations, just as he proceeds to live his life in spite of the various challenges and traumas he faces.