The first thing a proprietor learns, and painfully at that, is: Trust is fine, but control is better

The first thing a proprietor learns, and painfully at that, is: Trust is fine, but control is better

Elfriede Jelinek, the Austrian playwright and novelist, is known for her provocative and controversial works that often challenge societal norms and conventions. In her writing, she frequently explores themes of power, control, and manipulation, making the quote “Trust is fine, but control is better” particularly relevant to her work.

Jelinek’s characters are often caught in power struggles, where trust is a luxury they cannot afford. In her novel “The Piano Teacher,” for example, the protagonist Erika Kohut is a repressed and controlling woman who struggles to maintain power and control in her relationships. She is unable to trust others, and instead seeks to manipulate and dominate those around her. This lack of trust ultimately leads to her downfall, as she is unable to form genuine connections with others.