Book Cases: Vladek

Monday, February 25, 2008

What connections did you make between the father's Holocaust experiences and his life in New York?

Erin said...: Well, obviously there's the resourcefulness that served him so well during the war that later was perceived as neurotic and miserly. And I think also his thought that his son should be staying with him and helping him with everything could be possibly be traced to that time when family members counted on each other to help each other survive, because it was every family for itself.; 10:56 AM, February 26, 2008
kc said...: It was really fascinating to me how the personality traits he developed during the war lingered into his American life. I wonder how common that is among Holocaust survivors. It made me think of the sailors from "Into the Sea," the survivors of the Essex who had nearly starved to death and then hoarded food as old men.; 10:24 AM, February 27, 2008
rev amy said...: I have to think it is incredibly common, it is the defining expreince of their life. And the comfort in which they lived which was shattered so quickly and completely, I think would keep them from thinking comfort was ever assured again.

I often see people who lived through the depression die with tremendous bank accounts (or more commonly cash stashed all over the house) but lived very simple lives.; 11:24 AM, February 27, 2008

Monday, February 25, 2008