The characters from Sarah’s Key, Night, and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas have many similarities. For example, all 3 of the protagonists from the stories are Jewish young adults/children. They were all innocent prior to the holocaust, and emerged mature. The protagonists are all brave and family oriented. Furthermore, all of the main characters are very questioning, thus providing opportunities for the reader to ask themselves along with the protagonist, “How could this injustice be tolerated?” I believe that for all intents and purposes, the characters might as well all be the same person. Although they have different experiences, they are all typecast as the strong-willed, ‘life-is-hard-but-I’ll-make-it-through’ Jew that people want to read about.
Just as their characteristics are similar, so are their motivations. One of Elie Weisel’s primary motivations to continue living was his family’s welfare, whilst Shmuel wanted desperately to find his father, and Sarah is constantly worried for her younger brother. This proves that since the protagonists lost almost all that was important to them, they would not let their families be taken away from them as well. Also, all of the characters are motivated to simply live, and to get back to their normal lives before the troublesome times of the war.
Finally, proving my initial point that all of the fictional protagonists are loosely based off of the same Elie Weisel type of character, their experiences are generally the same as well. Sarah, Elie, and Shmuel were all taken to Concentration Camps and lost various members of their families. The main characters all lost their childhoods to the war, and never had much of a chance to enjoy being a kid. All of the documented experiences of the Jewish protagonists include them coming in contact with someone that is losing his/her mind, as a literary tool to show how severe the times were. I believe that I would enjoy reading a holocaust novel that depicted the main character with more faults and insecurities, thus making him/ her more human, but I can understand why the author doesn’t typically do that, as it could be seen as a betrayal to the brave Jews of the era.
Ben, I thought that your blog was very good. It was really thoughtful. I think that what you said abut the three characters is true, they are similar and they all come into contact with someone who is losing their mind or going crazy. It was al true.
ReplyDeletePedro, I thought that you did a great job including so much detail about all of the characters in not that much text. I admire you for your insight and understanding of all the characters. I can relate because most of my characters were also family oriented. In my book a lot of the characters show their love for each other, and you can tell how much they care for each other's safety. Overall you did a very good job!
ReplyDeleteP.S. (used thesaurus so I could talk on your level)
Good job! I read Sarah's Key before, and I had many of the same ideas that you did. The protagonists of my books were also very family-oriented and constantly thought of them. Family was one of the most important things to them. I believe that during the Holocaust they lost so many things important to them, that they didn't want to lose their families.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that you believe that they might as well be the same person. They may have the same traits and do the same things, but could they really be the same person and still have the same outcome?
ReplyDeleteGood job Ben! This was very well written and thoughtful. I also read Sarah's Key, and I agree that she was very family-oriented, and almost too mature for their age. My other character is like that too, it seems that family is the most important thing to most kids during the Holocaust.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ben. Again, interesting ideas and insight.
ReplyDelete4/5 points. Be sure to capitalize Holocaust.
The writing caught me immediately, and the stories kept me captivated. I liked that I learned a bit of history at the same time. It has the moral dilemma Jodi Picault style along with the history mixing with today. How hard it must have been to live through those days.
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