The Holocaust, known as the extermination of the Jewish race, is marked in history as one of the most inhumane and unthinkable acts to ever exist. With over five million Jews murdered, this mass Final Solution has caused many to wonder how some survived. One of the most common words associated with the Holocaust is Concentration Camps, otherwise known as death or work camps. The final resting place for the majority of the five million Jews murdered were located at one of the many concentration camps throughout Germany. To think that one could possibly survive the immense torture, starvation and inhumane treatment is hard to grasp. However, Terrence Des Pres gives some insight from real survivors of the Holocaust on how one survived. Des
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A story entitled The Shawl, by Cynthia Ozick describes the feelings of two prisoners struggles with selfishness, love and bonding. Rosa’s daughter Magda, a 15-month old baby, is wrapped in a shawl hidden from Nazi soldiers and Stella, Rosa’s fourteen-year-old daughter remains with them at a concentration camp. Although Rosa knows that as soon as Magda learns to walk she will die, Rosa continues to feed and nurture her. She gives up her rations of food for Magda, and gives no concern for her other daughter, Stella. Stella is jealous of Magda and the attention and love she receives from their mother. She wishes to be Magda, wrapped up in the shawl safe from the world. Stella steals the shawl from Magda, and Magda walks through the concentration camp crying, where she meets her death as a soldier throws her body into an electric fence. So many things are rushing through Rosa’s head as she sees this happening, however she knows she must not move (The …show more content…
Although prisoners were described as walking zombies, an imperfect race, and all of the things they held dear were taken from them, they survived. Millions died, but the survivors live to tell their stories. Among these stories are the common themes of silent resistance, unselfishness, and humane acts in an inhumane world. One could not survive only caring for themselves, as many died as ravenous beings fighting over a loaf of bread. The will to survive, as Terrence Des Pres states, “…is the figure who emerges from all those who fought for life in the concentration camps” (Des Pres 119). Resistance, no matter how quiet triumphs, and humanity wins,
A story entitled The Shawl, by Cynthia Ozick describes the feelings of two prisoners struggles with selfishness, love and bonding. Rosa’s daughter Magda, a 15-month old baby, is wrapped in a shawl hidden from Nazi soldiers and Stella, Rosa’s fourteen-year-old daughter remains with them at a concentration camp. Although Rosa knows that as soon as Magda learns to walk she will die, Rosa continues to feed and nurture her. She gives up her rations of food for Magda, and gives no concern for her other daughter, Stella. Stella is jealous of Magda and the attention and love she receives from their mother. She wishes to be Magda, wrapped up in the shawl safe from the world. Stella steals the shawl from Magda, and Magda walks through the concentration camp crying, where she meets her death as a soldier throws her body into an electric fence. So many things are rushing through Rosa’s head as she sees this happening, however she knows she must not move (The …show more content…
Although prisoners were described as walking zombies, an imperfect race, and all of the things they held dear were taken from them, they survived. Millions died, but the survivors live to tell their stories. Among these stories are the common themes of silent resistance, unselfishness, and humane acts in an inhumane world. One could not survive only caring for themselves, as many died as ravenous beings fighting over a loaf of bread. The will to survive, as Terrence Des Pres states, “…is the figure who emerges from all those who fought for life in the concentration camps” (Des Pres 119). Resistance, no matter how quiet triumphs, and humanity wins,