Have you ever wondered how someone’s personal opinion on a world issue may influence their likelihood of survival? Probably not, because the two don’t seem connected in anyway. Ruta Sepetys Salt to the Sea will show you otherwise. The novel, written in 2016, is written from the perspectives of four young adults. A Prussian, a German, a Lithuanian, and a Pol are all trying to survive in Germany during the end of World War Two. Through Sepetys phenomenal story you see the decisions, values, and mindsets of these four young characters affect their chance of survival as the war comes to a close. As we hear the same story through the voices of Joana, Emilia, Florian, and Alfred, we see how the characters endure many hardships in their fight for
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Alfred is a German soldier who has a very strong belief in a superior race, that doesn’t include anyone who is Polish, Russian, Serbian, Jewish. Alfred is probably the most selfish character in the novel, and he does whatever he can to survive. Although other characters like Florian are also focused on their own survival, alfred takes this concept to a whole new level. Alfred will do anything that benefits himself, but he also won’t do anything that doesn’t benefit him! Even if another individual's life is at risk, he’ll only help them if he gets the benefits he wants. When Alfred says "I quite enjoy the feeling of finally being the one who holds the cards," (Page123) it shows how he really likes to be the one in command, even though he really has no control over anything. Alfred’s political opinions will have a huge affect on his survival as well, as he said "Stalin has stolen more than land, Hannelore, he has stolen human dignity,". "It's all the fault of the communists. They are animals"(Page38) This quote shows how thick headed Alfred is, and how he puts the blame on everyone else and imagines himself as a superior being. When he states that "redistribution to those who are worthy makes the most sense," it just shows how he thinks he is better than everyone else, and this doesn’t help people's opinions towards him or his chance of survival as know one wants to help him. …show more content…
Throughout the novel we see Joana, who puts everyone else’s needs first, she’s always ready to lend a helping hand and she benefits from her selflessness and knowledge. Emilia, who is unsure of her worth, as she is ashamed and doesn’t feel the need to protect herself, but is also so caring towards those around her. Florian, who is trying to survive at all costs, but also helping those he cares about along the way, and his accepting nature that he shares with Emilia and Joana helping him all the while. And finally we have Alfred, who see’s himself and all other Germans as an exceptional form of human, and we see how he isn’t lending a hand out to anyone, unless it benefits him in some way of course. All these contrasting views show us a new angle on the war that a lot of wouldn’t have noticed before reading Sepetys novel, that someone's morals and world views can have a huge impact on their likelihood of
Alfred is a German soldier who has a very strong belief in a superior race, that doesn’t include anyone who is Polish, Russian, Serbian, Jewish. Alfred is probably the most selfish character in the novel, and he does whatever he can to survive. Although other characters like Florian are also focused on their own survival, alfred takes this concept to a whole new level. Alfred will do anything that benefits himself, but he also won’t do anything that doesn’t benefit him! Even if another individual's life is at risk, he’ll only help them if he gets the benefits he wants. When Alfred says "I quite enjoy the feeling of finally being the one who holds the cards," (Page123) it shows how he really likes to be the one in command, even though he really has no control over anything. Alfred’s political opinions will have a huge affect on his survival as well, as he said "Stalin has stolen more than land, Hannelore, he has stolen human dignity,". "It's all the fault of the communists. They are animals"(Page38) This quote shows how thick headed Alfred is, and how he puts the blame on everyone else and imagines himself as a superior being. When he states that "redistribution to those who are worthy makes the most sense," it just shows how he thinks he is better than everyone else, and this doesn’t help people's opinions towards him or his chance of survival as know one wants to help him. …show more content…
Throughout the novel we see Joana, who puts everyone else’s needs first, she’s always ready to lend a helping hand and she benefits from her selflessness and knowledge. Emilia, who is unsure of her worth, as she is ashamed and doesn’t feel the need to protect herself, but is also so caring towards those around her. Florian, who is trying to survive at all costs, but also helping those he cares about along the way, and his accepting nature that he shares with Emilia and Joana helping him all the while. And finally we have Alfred, who see’s himself and all other Germans as an exceptional form of human, and we see how he isn’t lending a hand out to anyone, unless it benefits him in some way of course. All these contrasting views show us a new angle on the war that a lot of wouldn’t have noticed before reading Sepetys novel, that someone's morals and world views can have a huge impact on their likelihood of