In Shakespeare’s masterpiece The Merchant of Venice, Shylock decries the social state of Jews, exclaiming, “Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?... If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?” This lamentation resonates throughout history and into the present, especially as mankind reflects on the tragedy of the Holocaust. Viewed by the hostile Nazi regime as inferior, Jews were victimized and suffered millions of casualties at the hands of hate. However, a few brave groups and individuals fought back against genocide and injustice, frequently at the cost of their own lives. Actions by people such as Oskar Schindler have become
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The main theme of Oskar Schindler’s story is that Schindler was a flawed man. Although not perfect, Schindler was still able to make a massive difference and save countless Jewish lives. Similarly, young people often are hesitant to try to help others because of perceived inferiority. For example, many teenagers have it within them to reach out and help those who are struggling socially, yet teenagers do not feel themselves to be suitable to intervene. Sometimes teenagers are worried that their friends might think worse of them by reaching out to help an unpopular student. However, Schindler turned against his own government and political regime to help others. Not concerned about social ostracization, Schindler faced death as a potential consequence of helping others. Yet this did not stop him. Clearly, another major theme of both Schindler’s story and the Holocaust as a whole is that it requires courage to take action, but the consequences of inaction can be grievous. A key reason for Schindler’s action was compassion for the Jews who were hunted in this period. If Schindler had not reached out to help others, historians claim that another 1,200 Jewish lives would have been lost during the Holocaust. Taking this lesson to heart, teenagers can find the room to go talk to the quiet person in the corner with no friends.
The main theme of Oskar Schindler’s story is that Schindler was a flawed man. Although not perfect, Schindler was still able to make a massive difference and save countless Jewish lives. Similarly, young people often are hesitant to try to help others because of perceived inferiority. For example, many teenagers have it within them to reach out and help those who are struggling socially, yet teenagers do not feel themselves to be suitable to intervene. Sometimes teenagers are worried that their friends might think worse of them by reaching out to help an unpopular student. However, Schindler turned against his own government and political regime to help others. Not concerned about social ostracization, Schindler faced death as a potential consequence of helping others. Yet this did not stop him. Clearly, another major theme of both Schindler’s story and the Holocaust as a whole is that it requires courage to take action, but the consequences of inaction can be grievous. A key reason for Schindler’s action was compassion for the Jews who were hunted in this period. If Schindler had not reached out to help others, historians claim that another 1,200 Jewish lives would have been lost during the Holocaust. Taking this lesson to heart, teenagers can find the room to go talk to the quiet person in the corner with no friends.