Eliezer immediately assumes the role as narrator. He is of twelve years old, the only son in an Orthodox Jewish family that is completely grounded in the Jewish tradition and law (looking up where Sighet is, the home town of Eliezer, i found that it was then annexed to Hungary). His father is highly respected in the Jewish community. Eliezer studies the Talmud and the Cabbala, taught by Moshe the Beadle.Hungarians expel all foreign Jews, including Moshe. He makes his way back and tells of the deportation trains and other events in the Holocaust, only to face a ridiculing audience.
But then Hungarian falls into fascism. German armies occupy Hungary, and soon move into Sighet. Community leaders are arrested, valuables are confiscated, and (perhaps the most famous of them all) they are forced to wear yellow stars. They are eventually forced into small ghettos and harsh living conditions.
The Nazis begin their 'cleansing' by deporting Jews little by little. Eliezer and his family are the last to go. They (meaning Eli and his family) watch as their fellow Jews are forced into crowded streets carrying little. His family is herded into another ghetto, even smaller. Martha offers to hide them in her village, but recieves a no. The last of the Jewish community is herded up and are bound for Auschwitz.
When reading this first chapter, I could not help but to ask how circumstances come into effect. Eli happens to be living in Hungary (or anywhere in Europe, for that matter), how they really had no means of knowing what was really going on, how ignorance led to the refusal of the offer to be sheltered. Naturalism, anyone?
But then Hungarian falls into fascism. German armies occupy Hungary, and soon move into Sighet. Community leaders are arrested, valuables are confiscated, and (perhaps the most famous of them all) they are forced to wear yellow stars. They are eventually forced into small ghettos and harsh living conditions.
The Nazis begin their 'cleansing' by deporting Jews little by little. Eliezer and his family are the last to go. They (meaning Eli and his family) watch as their fellow Jews are forced into crowded streets carrying little. His family is herded into another ghetto, even smaller. Martha offers to hide them in her village, but recieves a no. The last of the Jewish community is herded up and are bound for Auschwitz.
When reading this first chapter, I could not help but to ask how circumstances come into effect. Eli happens to be living in Hungary (or anywhere in Europe, for that matter), how they really had no means of knowing what was really going on, how ignorance led to the refusal of the offer to be sheltered. Naturalism, anyone?
'What can we expect? It's war...'
'The yellow star? Oh well, what of it? You don't die of it...'
4 comments:
An excellent job of summarizing the chapter and then giving relevant thoughts about the topic. I also agree that it shows naturalism. There are a few small grammatical errors, but it is a good read and I look forward to more in the future.
Good job witht he summary and the thoughts you gave regarding the events happening in the story. This is a very impressive summary and the blog as a whole is impressive.
Nick Springmann
I didn't realize the naturalism in it until I read your blog. I'm sure Mrs. Morgan would be very impressed. Also, the yellow star, yellow is the color of sickness.
First off, I like that you're using more than three groups. It might be a better idea to add a little more depth to each paragraph, though. It could use a few more relevant quotes, though. All in all, a pretty impressive first blog. Keep it up.
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