Essay Example on Guilt Throughout the Holocaust

Guilt Throughout the Holocaust As the train doors slammed open the dogs started barking and the frozen air hit our faces It had begun Dragged out of the boxcars and forced into a line it was that moment that began to determine their fate life or death In the books Maus I and Maus II by Art Spiegelman and the movie Schindler's List directed by Steven Spielberg the common themes of survival sacrifice hatred and guilt have continuously shown through each story when comparing the two Survival the state of continuing to live or exist typically in spite of a difficult circumstance This was an everyday theme throughout Vladek s stories in the graphic novel Maus She was taken with everybody else who was going to be deported to four apartment houses that were emptied to make a sort of prison They put thousands of people there it was so crowded that some of them actually suffocated no food no toilets It was terrible Spiegelman Maus I 94 This was just one of the many descriptions of the terrible conditions Jewish people had to face while they were incarcerated within the camps Vladek not only fought in the constant battle but he won through these extremely harsh conditions and slave labor He wanted to survive he wanted to fight for the fact that maybe one day he could finally be with Anja again Not only did Vladek fight for the fact that maybe one day he could finally be with Anja again but he continued an everyday battle and in which it became a very strong theme of sacrifice I starved a little to pay to bring Anja over 

This leads to the idea of what hatred is and how it was used Hatred is the reason for the Holocaust because it caused nice people to develop a reason to physically abuse and kill Jewish people The Holocaust shows us just how strong and powerful hate can be and how it can change people dramatically After the feeling of hatred dissipates the people that did horrible things just based on a feeling start to feel guilt The list is an absolute good The list is life All around its margins lies the gulf Spielberg Says Stern after finishing on demand of this list of Jewish people who will be transferred to Schindler s new camp in Czech Republic his hometown The people on this list have been specifically selected and bought by Oscar Schindler so that they will not be sent to Camp Auschwitz For a major part of the film it shown that as if Schindler needs to protect the Jewish people Or even in a way that he couldn't care less if somebody is Jewish or not as long as they are continuing to make him money Although the movie does document Schindler s change in view it's not clear throughout the film that he will try to save as many Jewish people as he can until he had made this list Meanwhile in completion of this list it is brought Sterns attention that Schindler is slowly but surely running out of money It is now noticeable Schindler has taken a task upon himself to save as many Jews as he can regardless of what it will cost him 

When Stern says the quote above he is recognizing the changing of many Jewish lives and his new trust in Schindler In sum these common themes between the books Maus I and Maus II and the film Schindler's List I feel thoroughly explain important points throughout each of these stories They impacted people's lives opening their eyes to the tragic events of the holocaust in a medium that all people could understand This film and the other books give the average person insight into the horror and tragedy of the holocaust The lessons taught and the information within these pieces of work will be remembered and reflected on by the rest of the world Work cited Shmoop Editorial Team Maus A Survivor's Tale Power Quotes Page 3 Shmoop Shmoop University 11 Nov 2008 www shmoop com maus power quotes 3 html Spiegelman Art Maus I a survivor s tale my father bleeds history Pantheon Books 1997 Spiegelman Art Maus II a survivor s tale and here my troubles began Paw Prints 2010 Spielberg Steven director Schindler s List 15 Dec 1993 Schindler s List Schindler s List Wikiquote en wikiquote org wiki Schindler 27s_List