Chattahoochee River
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Point of View
I'm wondering if perhaps some of the confusion, the frantic emotions, and the choppy thoughts are due to the fact that Elie was only 14 or 15 when this was going on. True, he wrote the story when he was an adult, but I think possibly his style is allowing the reader to see the situation presented in chapter 1, through the eyes of a young person. Maybe part of the "feelings of hope" or the down playing of the severity of the situation were the adults trying to not let the kids worry. This is just a thought...
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What an interesting take, Janina! Upon reading the chapter myself, I felt that the disbelief/denial of the adults was perhaps a personal defense, as though lying to themselves would prevent the atrocities from reaching their own "world" in Sighet. (I assumed this denial on the part of the adults would also influence the youths to think in a similar manner.) Now, after reading your post, I can definitely see how Elie Wiesel's age at the time of the events of the story could have "distorted" the emotions and reactions of the adults. Even in much smaller crises, parents are quick to attempt to shield their children, whether by simply lying about the magnitude of a situation or feigning hope and positivity. I imagine when facing such chaotic events as those in chapter 1, this instinct to protect one's children would be amplified. A specific example from the text that supports this thought is when Elie notes that, while preparing a meal once the family was moved into the smaller ghetto, his mother repeated that they "cannot give up."
ReplyDeleteI actually never thought of it that way, but you're right. He went through this horrific event as a child, watching his parents deal with the situation that unfolded in their laps, and the only way to keep everything together was give a sense of hope and optimism to the children watching. As a child still, I didn't realize exactly what all the parents were doing for their children, but it is clear to see now that they were trying to protect them from any sense of danger or fear.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with you if I had more background on what Elie's upbringing was like before point in Elie's life that our story takes place. If he was sheltered and was very innocent to the horrors of life, then this would explain his lack of panic. When you experience traumatic situations at a young age, then from that point after, you have a greater understanding of how it feels to lose hope, no matter what age you are.
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