As soon as the sunlight touches the streets of Berlin, Klara takes a deep breath of the morning air and checks her watch. 7:30 AM. It’s already late for her. Today is her first day at school, and she cannot afford to be tardy. She rushes down the stairs as fast as she can, taking the final steps two at a time.
In the dining hall, her father reads the newspaper, as usual, and her step-mother is sitting next to him, sipping on her tea. They are the only ones in the room, and Klara quickly grabs a bowl of oatmeal and heads for the door.
“Good morning, Klara,” her father says in a rather cheerful tone, looking up from his paper.
“Good morning, Father,” she says, matching his tone.
“Oh, and Klara,” her step-mother adds with a smile, “you might want to change before you leave. You’re wearing your brother’s clothes.”
Klara looks down and notices she’s wearing one of her brother’s sleek suits. She feels embarrassed, but she doesn’t have time to change. She makes a face at her step-mother and runs out of the door.
As she walks down to the tram station, she realizes she’s lost the ticket her father gave her. She curses under her breath and rushes to the next one. Just as she arrives, a carriage pulls up and stops in front of her. She can’t believe her eyes when she sees a young man – Max, a family friend’s son – on the driver’s seat.
“Klara! What are you doing here? Do you need a lift to school? Hop in!”
Klara’s cheeks turn pink, and she hesitates for a moment, but then she gets in the carriage with him. She knows it’s not proper for a young lady to accept rides from strange men, but Max is different. They’ve known each other for years and spent many evenings talking about their futures.
They ride together, talking about their summer vacations and the new school year. Max tells her about the university he’s going to attend in the fall, and Klara talks about her summer job at a bookstore. They laugh and joke, and soon the tram arrives at the school.
“Good luck, Klara,” Max says, and gently kisses her hand before heading back to his carriage. Klara can’t stop smiling and is late for the first class, but it’s worth it.
As she walks into the classroom, she looks around and sees that everyone is staring at her. She forgets why until she remembers the clothes she’s wearing. The girls in her class are all wearing skirts and frilly blouses, while Klara is sporting a tailored suit and tie. She feels out of place but also somehow confident.
To the surprise of the entire class, the new teacher, Mr. Paul, walks in. Mr. Paul is young and handsome, and Klara finds herself fascinated during the entire class. At the end of the day, while she’s still packing her books, Mr. Paul approaches her.
“Klara, I’d like to speak with you for a minute if that’s all right.”
Klara nods and follows him to his desk. Her mind races, wondering what she might have done wrong.
“Klara, I wanted to say that I appreciate your fashion sense. Your outfit doesn’t go along with the general trend of your peers, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth praise. Continue to dress however makes you feel comfortable. Don’t let society’s expectations hold you back.”
Klara is taken aback yet thrilled. This is the kind of support she’s been looking for.
Over the following days, Klara continues to dress in suits, and she feels more confident and happy than ever before. Soon, she finds herself spending more time with Max, who now seeks her company frequently. They spend long afternoons together, discussing everything from politics to literature. She finds him intriguing and charming.
One evening, while sitting under a tree in the park, Max looks at her with an intense gaze.
“What is it?” Klara asks, slightly nervous.
“Klara, I’ve been thinking about something for a while now, and I need to tell you. I’m in love with you.”
Klara’s heart skips a beat, and for a moment, she’s not sure how to react. She’s never been in love before, and she’s not sure she’s ready for it, but then she realizes she’s been feeling the same way.
“I think I might be in love with you too, Max.”
Max’s face lights up, and he takes Klara’s hand in his.
They continue enjoying each other’s company, but soon, events transpire that test their relationship. Klara’s father is against their relationship, and soon, she’s sent away to an all-girls boarding school.
Klara feels lost and alone, trapped in a world where she’s expected to be someone she’s not, to wear dresses and act like a proper lady. She desperately misses Max and the life they had together.
Years pass, and Klara becomes convinced that her life will never be the same. But she’s wrong. Fate has something special in store when she runs into Max again, in the heart of Berlin.
Their love reignites, and they decide to elope, despite what society might think. They drive away together in Max’s carriage, happy and in love, not caring what others may say.
This novel length story of transformation, self-discovery, and love captures the essence of the film, ‘I Don’t Want to Be a Man.’ Klara’s journey shows us the importance of being true to ourselves and that love can prevail, even in the face of societal norms.
