Plot Summary
11:56 | 
Posted by
GroupLit |
In her memoir I was a child of holocaust survivors (2006), Bernice Eisenstein explores her relationship with her parents (particularly her father), with the Holocaust, and with memory itself. Rather than a generalized plot summary, each chapter will have its own summary because each contains important aspects that should not be overlooked.
Please note that beside each chapter contains a citation and page information. Most of the ideas in these summaries (except for some guesses on how appropriate the titles are) are from Eisenstein's memoir.
The Ring (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 10-17).
In this first chapter, Eisenstein is traditionally organizing and preparing her father’s things after his funeral (2006, p. 11). She spends the chapter reminiscing about her father’s funeral and she briefly touches upon the time right before he passed (this chapter first establishes her relationship with her father) (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 10-17). One of the most important parts in this chapter occurs when her mother offers her the father’s ring and explains how she acquired it during the Holocaust (on pages 12-13). Eisenstein recognizes the symbolism it held for her mother and father and the importance in holding onto it (2006, p. 14-15). For Eisenstein, the ring helps her remember and, in a way, know her father: “All of my life I have looked for more in order to fill in the parts of my father that had gone missing, and now the ring that I wear encircles that space, replacing absence with memory”(2006, p. 16). The ring is an appropriate title particularly because this chapter deals directly with a ring and because the symbolism of the ring/circle/cycles continues throughout the memoir.
Without the Holocaust (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 18-26)
In this chapter Eisenstein reminisces about her childhood and her obsession with the Holocaust describing it as being an “addiction” (2006, pp. 18-26). She explains that her obsession with the Holocaust was in a way, an attempt to understand a side of her parents that they wouldn’t show (Eisenstein, p. 21, 2006). The title is quite appropriate for this chapter because Eisenstein realizes that “without the Holocaust” she wouldn’t be who she is (2006, p. 25).
Growing New Skin (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 27-51)
In this chapter the Eisenstein talks about her parents after the Holocaust, when they came to Canada (2006, pp. 27-51). In particular, she establishes her father’s character and further establishes relationship she had with him (2006, pp. 27-51). She recalls one phone call from when she was a child from a man who wanted to thank her father for helping him during the Holocaust (2006, pp. 27-51). This is particularly important to note because it offered her insight on to a side of her father she never knew: “...for the first time, I felt my father within his own past” (2006, p. 29). Eisenstein also offers the readers her interpretation of her father quite extensively through his clothing on page 30 (which ties in well with the chapter’s titles and themes). She also describes her father’s other traits, such as his “fierce love” (Eisenstein, p. 34, 2006). She then talks in depth about her relationship and how her father did not want to talk about the past (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 27-15). Eisenstein explains what she knows of her father’s past and his family during the Holocaust (2006, pp. 27-51). She goes into her parent’s relationship, particularly about the conflicts her father’s poker playing caused (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 27-51). Eisenstein goes into detail about her father’s love of westerns and envisions him him in a heroic way (2006, pp. 27-51). The title is quite appropriate for this chapter because it deals with pain and how it lessens over time: “In time, memory is soothed, if never fully healed. A second skin covers over and they become familiar to themselves once more” (Eisenstein, p. 27, 2006).
Yiddish Holds the World (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 52-87)
In this chapter the Eisenstein tries to figure out her relation to her parents and their past particularly through language (2006, pp. 52-87). She goes into her relationship with writing the memoir and how one goes about representing the Holocaust survivors in writing (2006, pp. 52-87). In this chapter she also goes more in depth into her own past, including more details on her childhood and other relatives (2006, pp. 52-87). One of the most important parts to note in this chapter is how Eisenstein goes into the Yiddish language because in many ways it unified many aspects of her life (2006. pp. 52-57). This chapter contains more illustrations than most and they serve to explain the author’s ideals on language, the past, family, and understanding it all (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 52-87). One of the most powerful scenes occurs during this chapter and it involves her indirect relationship to her father’s two sisters and what happened to them during the holocaust (which the father was never fully aware of)(Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 52-87). The title of this chapter is appropriate especially since the author places emphasis on language: “...the past and language are fastened together” (Eisenstein, 2006, p.65).
The Meaning of Books (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 89-97)
This chapter goes into Eisenstein’s inspirations and she talks about her passion for art, cinema, and especially books (2006, pp. 89-97). For Eisenstein, books had a particular importance when it came to trying to understand the past and memory (2006, pp. 89-97). She also talks about one difficult event where she tried to show her father a book of drawings from a holocaust survivor(2006, pp. 89-97). The title of this chapter is very appropriate because the chapter goes into what books mean (in a general sense) and what books mean to her (inspiration, voice, and memory).
My Mother on Tape (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 98-113)
In this chapter, Eisenstein tells her mother’s story after watching it on tape (2006, pp. 98-113). This story illustrates the horrors of the Holocaust and yet the little joy that could be found as well. After telling her mother’s story, Eisenstein explains how her mother went back to Auschwitz for a memorial visit and she was unable to go (and how she regretted it) (2006, pp. 98-113). The title for the chapter is literally appropriate, but also appropriate in a way that watching her mother allowed the author to connect more to her mother.
I Was a Grandchild (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 116 – 129)
In this chapter Eisenstein goes into detail about her grandparents and their characteristics (2006, pp. 116-129). She briefly explains their experiences during the Holocaust (particularly the grandfather) (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 116-129). She talks about one event in which she wanted to stay at her grandparent’s while they were away but ultimately decided not to let her (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 116-129). She continues to try to understand grandparents she never knew all that well (Eisenstein, pp. 116-129). The title is quite appropriate because it shows her actual relationship to her grandparents (in a blunt and factual sort of way).
Two Brothers, Two Sisters (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 130 – 145)
In this chapter, Eisenstein tries to understand the relationships and perspectives of her father, mother, and their siblings (her uncle and aunt) (2006, pp. 130-145). She goes into the Holocaust from the perspective of the connections and bonds that were formed between her father and mother and his brother and her sister (her mother and aunt were sisters and her father and uncle were brothers) (2006, pp. 130-145). She particularly explains more about what her aunt and uncle were like (2006, pp. 130-145). The title is very appropriate because although she acknowledges the relationship she her parents and their siblings had with each other, while being an observer.
The Glass Cabinet (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 146 – 155)
In this chapter, Eisenstein remarks on the importance of objects and the memories they hold (2006, pp. 146-155). She talks about one event in which an object allowed her father to freely communicate about his past (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 146-155). It was this event that made her have some understanding with her father: “He had given me a compass with which I could find my way to where he wanted his own memories to begin” (2006, pp.154, which is followed by an illustration of her father with his wife and child). The title is quite appropriate because her parents had a glass cabinet that held their memories.
The Group (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 156 – 179)
In this chapter, Eisenstein talks about her parent’s friends, fellow Holocaust survivors, and calls them the “group”(2006, pp. 156 – 179). She explains how close they were and how tragedy brought them together (major theme) (2006, pp. 156 – 179). She goes into detail about each group member and what happens to them (2006, pp. 156 – 179). While this chapter has sad moments, Eisenstein also talks about happier times, and there are quite a few humorous and warm scenes (2006, pp. 156 – 179). She explains her own interactions with the group and her relationship (she remarks on one particular visit she has with Bluma, a group member) (2006, pp. 156 – 179). She also talks about her interactions with Holocaust survivors while at the Washington Holocaust museum (2006, pp. 156 – 179). A very pivotal part occurs in this chapter when Eisenstein states: “I will never be able to know the truth of what my parents had experienced...to know the full extent of their loss” (2006, p. 178). The title of this chapter is quite appropriate because it seems many Holocaust survivors were connected through tragedy.
A Naming (Eisenstein, 2006, pp. 180 – 187).
This final chapter (like the first) takes place more recently (more in the present) than in memory (unlike most other chapters)(2006, pp. 180 – 187). Eisenstein explains in more detail the time just before her father dies and some time before she has her own child (this circles back nicely to the first chapter)(2006, pp. 180 – 187). One scene that is particularly touching is when her father says to her on his death bed that she carries his name (Eisenstein, 2006, p.186). She also explains her son’s Bris, which place sometime after her father’s death (2006, pp. 180 – 187). It is clear that the author names her son after her father (2006, pp. 180 – 187). In this way, the title of the chapter is appropriate because it connects a sad event with a joyous one and it illustrates the cycle of life.
Eisenstein, B. (2006). I was a child of Holocaust survivors. Toronto, On: McClelland & Stewart Ltd.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comments:
This article is wonderful! I really enjoyed reading it. I have to say, that one of the most strongest points in the plot seemed to be the parents wedding ring. It represented so many things, like love, hope, time, life and death. When I thought about the the ring in context to the book, it reminded me of this very striking image of wedding rings from the Holocaust.
http://www.history.com/images/media/slideshow/remembering-the-holocaust/wedding-rings-holocaust.jpg
When I think about all of these people, those who loved one another, and had to give up something that was such a strong representation of their love...it's just, heartbreaking. Through the ring the mother found in the borrowed coat, it was as though, she felt that one day life would be better, and that there was always hope.
Post a Comment