Identity In Suzy Zail's The Wrong Boy

Suzy Zail’s historical fiction, ‘The Wrong Boy’, explores how the hellish environment of Auschwitz has compelled victim's of Hitler’s Holocaust to be stripped of their identity. The novel portrays how barbaric conditions allowed for dehumanisation, removal of personal attributes and any remnants of human dignity. Zail presents how the labelling, isolation and inferiority have caused the characters to lose their cultural identity, charisma and self-respect.

Zail highlights how the immense challenges derived from the concentration camps were responsible for the eradication of cultural identity. Hanna wasn’t raised in a “strictly religious family,” however, the iniquitous atmosphere caused dehumanisation. In the scene of the victims being placed in the Serly brickyards for refuge, Zail employs strong characterisation and character growth and has the protagonist recount “I didn't much like being a Jew.” This represents how the effects of segregation, resentment and animosity allowed Hanna to develop a negative perception of her ethnicity. Consequently, her priority of survival and protecting her older sister who was “the size of a ten year old.” was more paramount than devoting herself to God, gradually losing her previously respected …show more content…
Clothing has the ability to define your personality. Zail uses graphic description in describing how Hanna’s Papa’s “fine linen shirt spoke of his success in business, his spectacles hinted at his love for books… stripped to his underwear he was just another Jew.” This evidently shows the power clothing has in distinguishing your identity. However, when stripped down to a bare minimum, they are perceived with no distinguishing features that express their personality as they all look similar with “drab grey dresses and yellow triangles.” Zail highlights the ripple effect towards a key aspect of the character's charisma being