The Holocaust - a Literary Inspiration?

The Diary of Anne Frank indicates that having buoyancy and hope in adversities can help acquire victory. This momentous diary that Anne Frank wrote in times of isolation and grief brought attention to the people. It showed a genuine side of the Nazis through a poignant glimpse into the eyes of a Jewish adolescent. Unfortunately, her journaling begins with her life slowly turning around, till the night that her sister, Margot, got called up. Her mother and father assure her that they will not be sending Margot to the camps. Eventually, they end up in a hiding place. “Up to now our bedroom, with its blank walls, was very bare. Thanks to Father -who brought my entire postcard and movie-star collection here beforehand... It looks much more cheerful.” This quote is crucial because it emulates how Anne is able to buffer against the litany of losses. Anne only writes about how grateful she is for the place and the food they get to eat with her parents. "It is more like being on vacation in some strange pension." Through her writing, readers can assume that Anne Frank had hope and purpose. Continually, she let nothing deter her, even though her lonely days slowly become ubiquitous. That has brought her to the success of the remaining time of her life. Although some may argue that Anne Frank’s life was neither successful nor fortunate, the readers know for a fact that she was able to have a little better life because of her optimism. If she were only depressed and sorrowful about her situation, she would have no meaning to continue her life. However, she was sanguine throughout and carried it to her thoughts, and was able to have a meaningful life till the end.

In Andrea Warde’s book, “Surviving Hitler”, Warde quintessentially illustrates that one comes across losses on the route to survival, but you must have hope. Jack Mandelbaum, the protagonist, was a 15-year-old boy when he was taken to the concentration camp. His teenage years passed by succumbing to the concentration camps, being dehumanized, and losing his family. Yet, because he was capable of resurgence and had hope, he made it out alive. Warde makes Jack's goal apparent, for his only focus was to put his family back, assuming that the rest of his family is still keeping it together. Even though he encounters many challenges that push him closer to the door of death. “Everyone was forced to watch when a prisoner was beaten, whipped, shot, hanged, or torn apart by the dogs." That demonstrates how exacerbated and unfair the situation was turning towards. Also, the Nazis were demising the Jews every day. “You can tell a week ahead you are going to die.” He describes the looks on the people's faces as pale and out of vividness. However, despite the disgusting circumstances, he espouses the situation and decides to play Hitler's game. “Whatever they decided the rules of the game were, I made up my mind to play by them.” Clearly, this shows that Jack was determined, persevered, and had hope till the end. He did not back down and misplaced his enthusiasm for the mistreatment he was undergoing. Readers can instantly identify that the sorrows of the dead can be a factor that destroys you. Since he knew this, he did not let it get to him and was able to survive till the end.