The Tin Drum

Inspired by his long-distance “singshattering” (74) skills, Oskar begins to feel more theatrical. He visits a play with his family to see a production of Tom Thumb. In the play, the titular character never grows larger than a thumb. Oskar empathizes with Tom Thumb and his adventures. When the family attends the Zoppot Opera-in-the-Woods, Oskar begins to envy the performers. He wants to be on the stage rather than in the audience. During one opera, Oskar feels a sudden need to sing. He breaks all the stage lights and the theater falls dark. His mother, a devout lover of Wagner, begins to introduce “simple piano arrangements” (77) of the composer's music into the family home since they can no longer attend the public performances.

Oskar refines his skill, learning how to shatter glass by singing at a pitch which is inaudible to humans. Later, Oskar and his family go to the circus. Oskar meets a 52-year-old man with dwarfism named Bebra who works as a clown in the circus. Oskar appreciates the way Bebra occupies the stage during the show. He shows Bebra his ability to shatter glass and Bebra is so impressed that he invites Oskar to run away from his family and join the circus.