1. Blind Obedience and Conformity: He blindly follows orders and adheres to the Nazi ideology, even though it goes against his own instincts and morality. He is deeply afraid of questioning the regime and risking his family's safety.
2. Love for his Family: He deeply loves his wife and children. He prioritizes their safety and tries to shield them from the harsh realities of their situation, even if it means staying silent about his own doubts.
3. Naivety and Ignorance: He is somewhat naive and ignorant about the true horrors of the concentration camp and the extent of the Nazi regime's brutality. He is initially oblivious to the fact that his son's new "friend" is a Jewish prisoner.
4. Complicity and Moral Ambiguity: Though he doesn't actively participate in the atrocities, his silence and inaction make him complicit in the horrors occurring around him. His character raises questions about how ordinary people can be caught up in totalitarian regimes.
5. Inner Conflict and Guilt: He grapples with internal conflict and guilt. He shows flashes of compassion and empathy, particularly for his son, but he struggles to reconcile his own moral values with his loyalty to the regime.
It's crucial to remember that these characteristics are intertwined and contribute to the nuanced portrayal of the father in the novel. He is not a villain in the traditional sense, but rather a flawed and complex character who represents the difficult choices faced by many Germans during the Nazi era.