In the memoir, In My Hands, Irene helps many jews that she comes across while working for the Nazis. Many times she finds herself desperately wanting to act on instinct, but knows that she would be putting her lives and the lives of others (her sister, Schulz, the jews, etc.) She must act according to thought out plans and at the right times.
Upon finding out that the jews had only about a month left before the Nazis planned to exterminate them all, she quickly thought of a way to help them escape hiding in a wagon. She realized that no matter what she does - whether it be feeding the jews or helping them escape - the sentence would still he the same: death. One who chooses to act selflessly, knowing the consequences facing them is brave. Irene does not back away from helping her new friends, not even when she gets sent away from HKP. Instead of dwelling on things that she cannot change, she is constantly trying to think of new ways to continue fighting the Nazis in her own way. Although she wants to find a way out of her new job as Rugemer's housekeeper, she knows that it would not be wise to; she must find another way to help her friends.
In the same scene, where she is called into the major's office to be told about the job, Irene holds back another kind of action. She feels helpless and wants to "scream, or cry, or slap his face." (154). By holding back, Irene is showing restraint along with some courage, too. It takes a very strong person to accept their helplessness and to try to find another, rational way out of it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
I agree, this quote is quite fitting to the memoir "In My Hands". Irene never really acted on what she thought would be judged as good or bad or how the consequences would affect her. Instead, she saw people in need and decided to help them, only afterward feeling the full consequence of her good deeds. Irene did not act in accordance with the laws, she rebelled and in doing so, made some of the bravest decisions of her life.
This was very straight to the point and well put. You described Irene's life during those war-times in one accurate sentence, saying: "Instead of dwelling on things that she cannot change, she is constantly trying to think of new ways to continue fighting the Nazis in her own way,".
The quote you choose, to discuss in terms of this memoir, was perfect and related to Irene Gut's constant struggle flawlessly. She had to constantly live between decisions and not only make them quick, but make them smartly. She had the control necessary to know when an option was not realistic and she had a mind boggling-ly fast response-time. I liked your line: "It takes a very strong person to accept their helplessness and to try to find another, rational way out of it,". This Holocaust survivor constantly stretched her limits and completed the impossible with both forethought and knowledge of the consequences (both behind and) ahead. She made a sequence of choices that could have led to her death, had she stopped pre-planning her next move. Irene realized the importance of timing.
Natalie Marie - "Instead, she saw people in need and decided to help them, only afterward feeling the full consequence of her good deeds." I think that Irene was more concerned about others' safety than her own. Throughout the memoir she did not reflect on her own personal struggles as much as she did on the struggles of others. I felt that this added so much more weight to her bravery.
Juno - Irene's training as a nurse and her compassion made her value people's lives and committed her to helping them. Being in the hospital around death (and then also having war around her) also made her value life and made her realize that timing is crucial. I definitely agree that all the horrifying things she went through shaped her as a person and made her the hero that she was.
Zeus, you write: Many times she finds herself desperately wanting to act on instinct, but knows that she would be putting her lives and the lives of others (her sister, Schulz, the jews, etc.)
In the above statement you say "her lives," referring to Irene. Since I am not familiar with "In My Hands," I wonder if Irene leads different lives, assumes different identities?
Irene does assume different identities throughout the memoir. In the beginning, she is an average girl who enjoys spending time with her family and takes pride in being Polish. As she gets involved in the war (as a nurse first, then as a runaway, then hiding out under a false identity (Rachel), as a partisan, etc.)
She loses her original identity and gains more, all of which she must protect. If she doesn't she can put many people in great danger (the people who helped her hide, the other nurses, other partisans).
Thanks for the particulars. As I wrote, I am not familiar with the work. I may have to find it and read.
Post a Comment