Outstanding Scenes
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We found many scenes in Bernice Eisenstein’s memoir to be outstanding. However we will be discussing only a few.
Outstanding scene 1
One scene which we all found to be outstanding in Eisenstein’s memoir occurs in the first chapter entitled The Ring (2006, pp. 10-17). In this scene Eisenstein receives her father’s ring from her mother (2006, p.14). Eisenstein’s mother then tells her how she came to acquire the ring during the Holocaust, and in turn Eisenstein tells us a brief glimpse of her story (2006, pp. 14-15). Eisenstein explains how her mother had worked in a storehouse called “Canada” in which her mother would have to sort the “…confiscated possessions of Jews…” (2006, p.14). Eisenstein further explains that her mother was once allowed to wear a coat to keep warm and it was in the pocket lining of this coat that her mother found the ring (2006, pp. 14-15). To Eisenstein this ring means a lot because it allows her to remember and, in a way, understand her father (2006, p16).
We found this scene to be outstanding because it confronts us with a brief, but still shocking, glimpse of her mother’s story in an honest and almost poetic way. Her mother’s story is quite disturbing (even when briefly told) and yet there is also this sense of amazement in her story as well. The Holocaust was a time of suffering and tragedy. It was during this time when the mother found the ring in a coat pocket while working in the ‘Canada’ storehouse (2006, p. 14). Eisenstein states that the ring belonged to“…A man [who] had been married in February 1914, and had died in Auschwitz” (2006, p. 16). We found that it was beautiful, and from a narrative perspective quite poetic, how the mother later gave the ring to the father in marriage (2006, p. 16) and that they eventually moved to the real Canada. For us it really presented the themes or ideals of sorrow and joy that occur in life.
We also found this scene to be outstanding because it establishes the important idea that objects have a function in memory as well as many other themes and ideals that occur throughout the entire memoir. Throughout her entire memoir (particularly in a chapter entitled The glass cabinet), Eisenstein explains how objects, like a ring, can connect a person to the past (whether it is theirs or someone else’s past). We found this idea to be very interesting because it is one thing to attach sentimental value to an item yourself, but quite another to actually connect a person’s memory, or ‘spirit’ to an item. In this way it seems that an objects value lies more in its symbolism than material worth. She also establishes the theme of connection (in contexts of family and memory) in this scene and continues this theme throughout her memoir by using ring/circle symbolism in her writing and illustrations (On page 75 she even uses a bagel effectively as symbolism). These ideas and themes first presented in this scene allowed us to interpret the rest of Eisenstein’s memoir on a more personal level.
Outstanding scene 2
There are two scenes in particular that are shockingly outstanding in Eisenstein’s memoir. The first scene occurs in the chapter called Yiddish holds the world (2006, pp. 52-87). In this chapter we learn the disturbing details about what happened to the father’s family, particularly his pregnant sister Binche, during the Holocaust. Eisenstein, who learned of her father’s family from an actual witness and survivor, explains that Jewish people of Miechow were being marched to the railroad station (2006, p. 85). She continues to explain that “Binche went into early labour…” (2006, p. 85) and that once the child was born it was shot (2006, p. 85). The second scene occurs in the chapter called My mother on tape (2006, pp. 98-115). In this particular scene, Eisenstein’s mother speaks in detail about her Holocaust experience. Eisenstein’s mother talks about the horrible sights and cruelty she saw and experienced before and after entering a concentration camp (2006, pp.98-115). One disturbing example is how the mother was tattooed with a number (2006, p.106). Her mother also talks her fears, sickness, and all the death she saw and came so close to herself (2006, p.107).
In both of these scenes nothing was sugar coated and we were presented with the disturbing truth told by a person who suffered through all of it. The scene that involves the father's sister shows such cruelty. The mother's story in itself is very shocking. In his review, Garvie comments on this part as well stating that: "Eisenstein's transcription of her mother's story...is sparsely illustrated. Matter-of-fact and quietly horrific, it needs no enhancement or mediation" (2006, Review of I was a child of Holocaust survivors). It is difficult to even try to imagine what the Holocaust experience was like based on what we already knew before reading this. After reading these parts we realized that we actually do not know how bad the Holocaust really was (nor will we ever to a full extent). These parts effectively make you realize that what seems like horrendously surreal nightmare to us was a reality for many people. What makes these parts so outstanding and memorable in Eisenstein’s memoir is that you can see/feel the people behind these accounts, not just as victims and survivors, but as people who like us have families.
Eisenstein, B. (2006). I was a child of Holocaust survivors. Toronto, On: McClelland & Stewart Ltd.
Garvie, M. (May, 2006). I was a child of Holocaust survivors. Review of the book I was a child of Holocaust survivors]. Quill & Quire. Retrieved from http://www.quillandquire.com/reviews/review.cfm?review_id=5093
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1 comments:
If you want to read more stories from Holocaust survivors, and their family go here
http://isurvived.org/TOC-III.html
This is a great memorial site that contains many stories and images.
-Amy
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