Destiny, karma, beyond control… these are a few synonyms for the word fate. In Gerda Weissmann Klein’s memoir, All But My Life, fate plays a large role in Gerda’s survival. This theme is reinforced through plot details, dialogue, and character development.
Plot details build on the theme of fate in this memoir. Gerda and Isle are planning to escape by disappearing into the woods. When it’s time, Isle doesn’t want to leave. ‘“Gerda, not now!’ she whispered. ‘Please, not now! I am afraid,’” (191). Gerda and Isle do not try to escape. In general, Isle and Gerda would have been caught and killed if Isle wouldn’t have backed out of the plan, therefore, fate plays an important role within these plot details. After Gerda listens to Isle and …show more content…
When the policeman takes Gerda into the police station because she has an English book, Gerda knows her life is jeopardy. The officer says, ‘“This is a terrible crime. It is almost espionage to learn English while we are at war with England. The punishment will be meted out accordingly.’ As soon as the policeman left, the bald officer turned to me. His voice softened to a more human tone. ‘Now run home as fast as you can,’ he said, ‘and forget your English,’’’ (50). It is agreed upon that this behavior from the Nazi follower to a Jew is uncommon and therefore with the use of dialogue, fate is reinforced in the memoir as a theme. One morning Gerda and her parents were sitting as the table. “Then all of a sudden Papa looked up and asked Mama where my skiing shoes were. ‘Why?’ I asked, baffled. ‘I want you to wear them tomorrow when you go to Wadowitz. But Papa, skiing shoes in June?’ He said steadily: ‘I want you to wear them tomorrow. Yes, Papa, I will,’ I said in a small voice. I wonder why Papa insisted; how could he possibly have known? Those shoes played a vital part in saving my life,” (86). Most people would agree that wearing snow boots in the summer is not a typical request by a parent and would not be considered a life saving act, therefore, the theme of fate continues within this dialogue. With the use of dialogue in All But My Life, using fate as a theme
Plot details build on the theme of fate in this memoir. Gerda and Isle are planning to escape by disappearing into the woods. When it’s time, Isle doesn’t want to leave. ‘“Gerda, not now!’ she whispered. ‘Please, not now! I am afraid,’” (191). Gerda and Isle do not try to escape. In general, Isle and Gerda would have been caught and killed if Isle wouldn’t have backed out of the plan, therefore, fate plays an important role within these plot details. After Gerda listens to Isle and …show more content…
When the policeman takes Gerda into the police station because she has an English book, Gerda knows her life is jeopardy. The officer says, ‘“This is a terrible crime. It is almost espionage to learn English while we are at war with England. The punishment will be meted out accordingly.’ As soon as the policeman left, the bald officer turned to me. His voice softened to a more human tone. ‘Now run home as fast as you can,’ he said, ‘and forget your English,’’’ (50). It is agreed upon that this behavior from the Nazi follower to a Jew is uncommon and therefore with the use of dialogue, fate is reinforced in the memoir as a theme. One morning Gerda and her parents were sitting as the table. “Then all of a sudden Papa looked up and asked Mama where my skiing shoes were. ‘Why?’ I asked, baffled. ‘I want you to wear them tomorrow when you go to Wadowitz. But Papa, skiing shoes in June?’ He said steadily: ‘I want you to wear them tomorrow. Yes, Papa, I will,’ I said in a small voice. I wonder why Papa insisted; how could he possibly have known? Those shoes played a vital part in saving my life,” (86). Most people would agree that wearing snow boots in the summer is not a typical request by a parent and would not be considered a life saving act, therefore, the theme of fate continues within this dialogue. With the use of dialogue in All But My Life, using fate as a theme