Important Quotes
The Survivor's Narrative
"It was many, many such stories--synagogues burned, Jews beaten with no reason, whole towns pushing out all Jews--each story worse than the other" (35).
Here, we can see that the onset of the holocaust sparked fear in all those who were victimized. These individuals were experiencing a transition from a life of supposed safety and normality, and were recognizing that they must now begin to fear for their lives and recognize that their lives would no longer be the same. This transitional perspective is important to look at in the context of the story and the decisions that characters make along the way. This is a survival story, and understanding the mindset of the characters at the start of the genocide is important when analyzing and predicting events.
Here, we can see that the onset of the holocaust sparked fear in all those who were victimized. These individuals were experiencing a transition from a life of supposed safety and normality, and were recognizing that they must now begin to fear for their lives and recognize that their lives would no longer be the same. This transitional perspective is important to look at in the context of the story and the decisions that characters make along the way. This is a survival story, and understanding the mindset of the characters at the start of the genocide is important when analyzing and predicting events.
"I learned here how to do things that were useful to me when I came to Auschwitz" (80).
Vladek, the father of the story's narrator, and teller of the holocaust narrative, must do a great deal to survive. Throughout the story, he performs many different jobs and makes himself useful to the Nazis in order to be spared. He works for the tin-shop owner in order to get official work papers to keep the Nazis from taking him away, but he later uses the skills he gathers to avoid the gas chambers in the concentration camps. Here, he is foreshadowing some of the trials he will have to overcome later in the novel.
Vladek, the father of the story's narrator, and teller of the holocaust narrative, must do a great deal to survive. Throughout the story, he performs many different jobs and makes himself useful to the Nazis in order to be spared. He works for the tin-shop owner in order to get official work papers to keep the Nazis from taking him away, but he later uses the skills he gathers to avoid the gas chambers in the concentration camps. Here, he is foreshadowing some of the trials he will have to overcome later in the novel.
"I approached over to them...if I ran away they would see: 'yes, it IS a Jew here'" (151).
Numerous times in the novel, Vladek must remain calm in order to trick others into sparing him. In this instance, he approaches strangers and must comfort them by telling him that he is not a Jew. His perceived identity spares him from a difficult situation; he remains calm in order to convince the Polish townspeople that he is not Jewish. This dynamic is interesting to discuss, especially when delving into deeper issues related to the holocaust in the novel. The identity that others place on him determine his freedom to walk away from the situation.
Numerous times in the novel, Vladek must remain calm in order to trick others into sparing him. In this instance, he approaches strangers and must comfort them by telling him that he is not a Jew. His perceived identity spares him from a difficult situation; he remains calm in order to convince the Polish townspeople that he is not Jewish. This dynamic is interesting to discuss, especially when delving into deeper issues related to the holocaust in the novel. The identity that others place on him determine his freedom to walk away from the situation.
Historical Information
Key Holocaust Information is explained in the text
"They thought it was to Theresinstadt they were going. But they went right away to Auschwitz, to the gas" (89).
The Holocaust affected its victims in numerous ways, one of which was the traumatic separation of families. Manipulation was a tactic frequently utilized by the Nazis, and in this passage we can see that victims are misled into exposing their grandparents from hiding and sending them away. "Theresienstadt," the community that they mention, refers to a retirement home type place that the Nazis advertised for the elderly. The Nazis used strategies of manipulation by tricking individuals into believing the elderly of their family would be taken care of, when in fact they were being sent to concentration camps.
"Each of us gets coupons for 8 ounces of bread a day, and a tiny bit of margarine, sugar, and jam per week. That's all!" (77).
Not only did Jews need to worry about their physical safety on the streets, but other regulations hindered their daily lives as well. Even food was regulated, and people needed to do everything they could to survive, including purchasing food through the black market. It was dangerous for people to take these measures to take care of themselves, but not doing so would resort in malnourished families. This is yet another tactic that the Nazis used to control and manipulate others.
Not only did Jews need to worry about their physical safety on the streets, but other regulations hindered their daily lives as well. Even food was regulated, and people needed to do everything they could to survive, including purchasing food through the black market. It was dangerous for people to take these measures to take care of themselves, but not doing so would resort in malnourished families. This is yet another tactic that the Nazis used to control and manipulate others.
"Two days ago the Nazis marched them into a forest...and they shot all of them--they killed 600 people!" (63).
Vladek was in the Polish Reserves Army (40) and was drafted to serve in the war. He was later taken as a prisoner of war, and experienced racism during his encampment as a POW. Jews were given very little to eat and were forced to sleep in tents while the Polish POWs were given heated cabins (55). This particular scene from the book, shown to the left, highlights the extreme maltreatment of the Jewish population at the time, even those serving as soldiers. Rather than releasing them, the Germans disposed of all of them at once.
Vladek was in the Polish Reserves Army (40) and was drafted to serve in the war. He was later taken as a prisoner of war, and experienced racism during his encampment as a POW. Jews were given very little to eat and were forced to sleep in tents while the Polish POWs were given heated cabins (55). This particular scene from the book, shown to the left, highlights the extreme maltreatment of the Jewish population at the time, even those serving as soldiers. Rather than releasing them, the Germans disposed of all of them at once.