The people whom we want to be are often not the people we are. In fact, we are molded by so many things in the society around us that our true nature gets lost early on. As people, events, and objects influence and change us, we often drift far from the actual person we are. In times of conflict when we lose so many of these objects we thought had molded us; that is when we discover who we truly are. In All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr proves that in times of conflict, the true character of human nature is revealed.
All the Light We Cannot See is an award winning novel about the hardships of War War II and its impact on two very different people, a German orphan named Werner and a blind French girl called Marie Laure and how their …show more content…
After he came the Nazi camp, he acted just like the other brainwashed students and followed his orders. But once he is sent into the real battle he realizes who he really is and his true nature finally shines through. At the beginning of his time in camp, while Fredrick is getting beat up he thinks to himself “Is this not wrong?” before realizing that “But here it is right” (Doerr, 194). This shows how he is trying to understand the morals of the camp and what is expected from him. We see him throughout his time at the camp shut off his morals and follow others. In fact, Doerr even says “Werner is succeeding. He is being loyal. He is being what everybody agrees in good. And yet every time he wakes and buttons his tunic, he feels he is betraying something” (Doerr 250). This shows that while he has not been comfortable revealing his true nature yet, he knew he was not being a good person. When Werner decides to rescue Marie Laure after hearing her broadcast, he realizes that he has not been himself for a long time. He reveals his true caring nature by helping Marie Laure even though he shouldn’t have. He also reveals his true character through his thoughts about Jutta. Every single time he is in a tough situation in this novel, Werner thinks about Jutta, and his childhood, and Frau Elena. He remembers their happy memories and how great he had it growing up. This proves that no matter how tough Werner could pretend to be, he loved his family and really just wanted to go home to them. It also proves how caring he is because when Frederick is getting beat up, he thinks about Jutta and as the beating up gets more intense he thinks “Jutta, close your eyes” (Doerr, 194). Even though she is not here, he was thinking about her to get through this time and he even wanted to protect this imaginary version of
All the Light We Cannot See is an award winning novel about the hardships of War War II and its impact on two very different people, a German orphan named Werner and a blind French girl called Marie Laure and how their …show more content…
After he came the Nazi camp, he acted just like the other brainwashed students and followed his orders. But once he is sent into the real battle he realizes who he really is and his true nature finally shines through. At the beginning of his time in camp, while Fredrick is getting beat up he thinks to himself “Is this not wrong?” before realizing that “But here it is right” (Doerr, 194). This shows how he is trying to understand the morals of the camp and what is expected from him. We see him throughout his time at the camp shut off his morals and follow others. In fact, Doerr even says “Werner is succeeding. He is being loyal. He is being what everybody agrees in good. And yet every time he wakes and buttons his tunic, he feels he is betraying something” (Doerr 250). This shows that while he has not been comfortable revealing his true nature yet, he knew he was not being a good person. When Werner decides to rescue Marie Laure after hearing her broadcast, he realizes that he has not been himself for a long time. He reveals his true caring nature by helping Marie Laure even though he shouldn’t have. He also reveals his true character through his thoughts about Jutta. Every single time he is in a tough situation in this novel, Werner thinks about Jutta, and his childhood, and Frau Elena. He remembers their happy memories and how great he had it growing up. This proves that no matter how tough Werner could pretend to be, he loved his family and really just wanted to go home to them. It also proves how caring he is because when Frederick is getting beat up, he thinks about Jutta and as the beating up gets more intense he thinks “Jutta, close your eyes” (Doerr, 194). Even though she is not here, he was thinking about her to get through this time and he even wanted to protect this imaginary version of