YMMV / Effi Briest

• Alternative Character Interpretation: So much that it's a regular feature of school discussions.
  • Effi: innocent free-spirited child forced into a marriage and a life she didn't really want, or ungrateful weak-willed woman who failed to grow up?
  • Instetten: Heartless, pedantic, dirty old workaholic or betrayed husband who did the best he could?
• Squick: Instetten is Effi's mother former suitor, and though he doesn't love Effi (marrying her rather for financial prospects) he genuinely loved her mother. Meaning a teen marries her mom's former lover.
• Values Dissonance: Among the reasons why many school children who are forced to read it in German high school hate it; few of the actions of the major characters make much sense with modern views of gender, sexuality and "honor". Then again, that might've been Fontane's point.