Becoming Adolf Blog

Becoming Adolf by Rich Cohen illustrates the symbolism of the toothbrush mustache and the role that it continues to play even today in society. He portrays this by examining the history of the toothbrush style mustache as well as living the experience of wearing the mustache. By the time he shaves his facial hair, the conclusion is evident of the negative impact and the role that the toothbrush mustache holds today. This is shown from his own experience of how people reacted to this symbol from the past. Not to mention, it is because of the meaning that it has gained based on history when Adolf Hitler wore the toothbrush mustache during his time as leader of the Nazi Party. Making the toothbrush mustache a reminder to people today of the consequences that his leadership achieved.


The author of Becoming Adolf, Rich Cohen, combines his personal story with research by relating his experience wearing the toothbrush mustache to his research on the history of the toothbrush mustache. His personal opinion is influenced by the facts from his research that people with mustaches in history were very powerful men that many feared so he. In turn, the toothbrush mustache is a negative thing to many and he wanted to defuse it. The effect from Cohen relating personal experience with research is that the reader finds themselves relating to research and better understanding the outcome of his experience.


Rich Cohen learns that although he wants to make the toothbrush mustache a symbol that no one any longer fears, he can not undo how people feel. Therefore, any person who chooses to style a toothbrush, 'Hitler' mustache will be looked at differently. Whether it be with disgust, anger or fear as in Rich Cohens experiences. When walking down the street some people said things after he passed, "but most looked away". I learned that the toothbrush mustache was not always a bad symbol because "in the years before the First World War, the Toothbrush was taken up by a German folk hero". However, since the first world war ended, if you wear a toothbrush mustache you may be associated with Hitler by many people. This is because the person that wore the mustache in history and the consequences of his actions are portrayed by the symbol of the toothbrush mustache. Cohen points out that in the past many movies and media, portray those with toothbrush mustaches as 'madman', villains, power abusers or tyrants which just furthers the negative symbolism.