When analyzing the archetypes of Eisenstein’s memoir, I was the child of Holocaust survivors, it is wise to reference the psychological archetypes as defined by Carl Jung, all of which have been found in stories and real life time and time again. In the following writings, these archetypes and characters associated with them will be highlighted.
To begin, according to the article, Jung’s archetypes, which can be found at Changingminds.org there are several different family archetypes, which include the father, mother, and child.
Father
According to Jung, one of the most common father archetypes is of a person whom is “Stern, powerful, controlling.” (cite cite) Many characters in Eisenstein’s memoir share these similar characteristics, especially her father Ben Eisenstein, and her grandfather Moishe. Her father for example, was illustrated in a more serious and sterner way than the soft and delicate lines of her mother. This seems to portray Eisenstein’s fathers prominent and strength. However, this archetype is not followed to an absolute tee, as her father also showed a great deal of love, emotion, and compassion for his family and proceeding events.
Hero
Another possible archetype that may be applicable to Eisenstein’s father is to that of the hero. Needless to say, in most piece of writing there is usually an antagonist and a protagonist. In this case, the antagonist would be her father, as he truly was heroic and brave. As mentioned in the earlier post about characterization, there was a case where he saved a man’s life, despite that fact that he was putting his own on the life to do so. In this memoir, it is often conveyed that both child and adult Bernice Eisenstein saw her father as a hero, comparing him to the westerns that he loved. For example “Alone, out of the East, he rides into Auschwitz, slowly passing through the archway. He gets off his horse…He sniffs the air and says “Shmeckt avek.” A storm threatens the sky…Out of nowhere, Nazis appear before him. Surrounded, he is outnumbered. But he is calm, his hand steady, and his gaze resolute suspended in a freeze frame…He stands before them and unleashes a moan so powerful that its resonance causes tremors in the grounds upon which he stands, and with its fierceness the earth splits, swallowing the Nazis whole… Quietly my father goes from barrack to barrack, opening the doors, his footsteps soundless. The prisoners shield their eyes from the light as they wander out to the courtyard” (Eisenstein, 2006, p.p. 51).Though this is an exaggeration based on a western, the reader gets a clear understanding of how she viewed her father, and which archetypes pertained to him.
Mother
Another archetype that can be found in this memoir that of the mother. According to Jung the mother is “Feeding, nurturing, soothing” (cite cite). In her memoir Regina and her grandmother show these characteristics. As mentioned in the earlier post about characterization, Regina’s mother care for her greatly when she was ill and in a concentration camp. Bernice was also cared or by her mother when she became injured and required care. Many of the women in this memoir appear to have a very kind and nurturing nature about them.
Child
According to Jung, the child archetype represents “Birth, beginnings, salvation”. These notions also hold true in this memoir. For example, the birth of Eisenstein’s son was a new beginning for her and her family, especially after her father’s death. This archetype is also applicable when one considers that many Holocaust survivors, and the Holocaust survivors in this book, eventually when on to have children and find peace and salvation in their lives.
Eisenstein, B. (2006). I was a child of Holocaust survivors. Toronto, On: McClelland & Stewart Ltd.
Jung, C.G. (1964). Man and His Symbols, New York; Doubleday and Company, Inc. Retrieved from http://changingminds.org/explanations/identity/jung_archetypes.htm
Characterization (archetypes)
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