Collective Identity In Oskar Shindler's

The concept of identity is a very complex one. We can look at identity in terms of gender, race, ethnicity, or religion. Or, we can look at identity in terms of individuality, relating to specific qualities and attributes that help define someone 's character. Kwame Anthony Appiah, author of “Racial Identities,” proposes ideas to help readers think about the relationship between individual and collective identity. Collective identity provides a basis for understanding a particular group, whether that be understanding the ideology of a political organization or even the practices of a religious denomination. This type of identity sets “loose norms or models” (Appiah 127) for members to follow, beliefs to uphold, and an outlook for the outside world …show more content…
At the core of Schindler’s identity, is his national and ethnic identity as a German. Equally as important and prominent is his affiliation with the Nazi party, a political group. The Nazi Party disseminated ideas and beliefs that the Jewish population was the root of evil. In a post World War I Germany, economic downturn, social unrests, and mass unemployment swept the nation, calling for a “national rebirth.” Specifically, Jews were held responsible for the great economic depression after Germany’s defeat in World War I. Jews were very wealthy as they controlled important merchandises and expert fields, therefore they were not affected much by the depression (Aukje & Williams 151). For these reasons, the Nazis devised a systematic plan, calling for a total eradication of their population in Europe. This was done through tortuous means such as concentration camps and extermination camps, a time period known now as the Holocaust. To be a German Nazi during this time was a position of power, but to a Jew, Nazis were a source of great