SPOILER ALERT The first bombshell, which was probably much more of one in the mid-90s when things were not as open and forward or shocking. The second is that Hanna was a guard in the German S.S. and was on trial for her part of mistreatment against Jewish prisoners of war at one of the concentration camps. The third is that Hanna is illiterate. As much was made that she couldn't read and the sorrow over that she couldn't read. The last bombshell is after 18 years of incarceration, she is to be released and instead commits suicide. She saved money and Michael is to dispense it to illiteracy and Jewish victims. Some things are breezed over, like a marriage, which is dealt with in 2 pages. What about the impact of it all – really? The contrast? I thought he could've really worked the differences between an intense relationship and an adult one. He has a child with his wife and did she ever learn of that? It brings in the generational view point and guilt and all that; if the child learned of that young relationship, what about backlash?