Unlocking the Past Past events, joyful or miserable, are very often the events that can have the maximum effect on people’s thoughts, actions, and relationships. The tragic events that occurred in the past affected the characters in novel to the point where their lives would never be the same. In the novel Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay, historical events that take place significantly impact the main character, Julia Jarmound’s various relationships throughout the course of the novel. The first of Julia’s relationships that begins to deteriorate when past events resurface is her relationship with her husband. Bertrand, her husband, at the beginning of their marriage hoped to have a large family, a family Julia was unable to provide.
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During this trying time Julia becomes closer to her daughter. When they become angry with Julia for digging up the past “Zoe drew herself up. She gazed at Colette, Edouard, at her aunts, at her father. At [Julia]. “There’s something else I want to tell you,” she added, smoothly switching from French to English and accentuating her American accent. “I don’t care what some of you think. I don’t care if think Mom was wrong, if you think Mom did something stupid. “I’m really proud of what she did. How she found William, how she told him. You have no idea what it took, what it means to her. What it means to me. And probably what it means to him. And you know what? When I grow up, I want to be like her. I want to be a mom my kids are proud of.” (Rosnay 269) Because of her mother’s courage to face the events from past, Zoe was incredibly proud of her and views her as an ideal role model. A few of Julia’s in laws became furious with her for her bold actions. Her sister in law believed that “What Julia did was pathetic. Bringing back the past is never a good idea especially whatever happened during the war. No one wants to be reminded of that, nobody wants to think about that.”” (Rosnay 267) Instead of being proud of her actions they thought she should have just left it alone since it was in the past and happened during a troubled time. They also viewed her choices as disrespectful towards their family. While stating Julia’s mistake, Laure “did not look at [her], but [Julia] perceived the full weight of her animosity. [Julia] read her mind easily. Just the sort of thing an American would do. No respect for the past. No idea of what a family secret is. No manners. No sensitivity. Uncouth, uneducated American: l’Americaine avec ses gros sabots.” (Rosnay 267) Her extended family views her as disrespectful
During this trying time Julia becomes closer to her daughter. When they become angry with Julia for digging up the past “Zoe drew herself up. She gazed at Colette, Edouard, at her aunts, at her father. At [Julia]. “There’s something else I want to tell you,” she added, smoothly switching from French to English and accentuating her American accent. “I don’t care what some of you think. I don’t care if think Mom was wrong, if you think Mom did something stupid. “I’m really proud of what she did. How she found William, how she told him. You have no idea what it took, what it means to her. What it means to me. And probably what it means to him. And you know what? When I grow up, I want to be like her. I want to be a mom my kids are proud of.” (Rosnay 269) Because of her mother’s courage to face the events from past, Zoe was incredibly proud of her and views her as an ideal role model. A few of Julia’s in laws became furious with her for her bold actions. Her sister in law believed that “What Julia did was pathetic. Bringing back the past is never a good idea especially whatever happened during the war. No one wants to be reminded of that, nobody wants to think about that.”” (Rosnay 267) Instead of being proud of her actions they thought she should have just left it alone since it was in the past and happened during a troubled time. They also viewed her choices as disrespectful towards their family. While stating Julia’s mistake, Laure “did not look at [her], but [Julia] perceived the full weight of her animosity. [Julia] read her mind easily. Just the sort of thing an American would do. No respect for the past. No idea of what a family secret is. No manners. No sensitivity. Uncouth, uneducated American: l’Americaine avec ses gros sabots.” (Rosnay 267) Her extended family views her as disrespectful