Elena and the character of Mariam from the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns are similar in many aspects. First, they are both seen as Christ figures. A Christ figure is an individual who is not Christ himself, but shares similar qualities as Christ. For example Elena is great with children she risks everything for her children and is willing to do anything for their safety. Mariam too has so much love for children specially Laila’s children and is willing to do anything in order for them to have a better life. Both Elena and Mariam are sacrificing which is another attribute of a Christ figure. Elena sacrifices all of her blankets and food for her children. Mariam sacrifices several beatings and other hard ships for Laila and her children. Lastly both Elena and Mariam die for the sake of others which is an ultimate Christ figure attribute. Elena Sacrifices herself for her children’s well-being by giving them the last of her supplies and thus dying from freezing. Mariam dies for the sake of Laila and her children’s future. Both Elena and Mariam have many similar attributes which makes the two of them perfect for a character comparison. Kretzsky is very similar as the two for one SamenEric from William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. They are both considered to be on the bad side in the eyes of the reader. Kretzsky is a part of the group that are taking families out of their homes and putting them into camps and Samneric eventually get a part of the savage tribe that is out to get Ralph. However both Kretzsky and Samneric have a hidden generosity that shows in the little actions they do. Instead of Krezsky killing or hurting Lina for sneaking out, he offers her a ride back. Same goes with Samneric, They warn Ralph that Roger and his hunters were going to come after him even though they could be beaten for talking to Ralph. Both Kretzsky and Samneric take risks in order to provide information/ supplies because it is the right thing to do. | |
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The handkerchief: this object symbolizes the connection/unity of all the camp prisoners of Stalin. The travel of the handkerchief symbolizes the prisoner’s fight to help each other and stay unified. The handkerchief also symbolizes the fight within hardships and not giving up. Lina’s art: Her powerful artwork symbolizes all of the built up anger she has from the NKVD killing all of these innocent people that surround her. Not only is Lina’s art work a symbol of hardship and frustration, but it also acts as a voice for many when it is found in a capsule after the fall in communism. The stone: Andrius gives Jonas a stone that later symbolizes hope, strength and luck. Whenever a character goes through a death they believe the stone gives them the strength to keep going. Andrius, Jonas, and Lina all share the stone depending on whoever needs it the most. Quest Quest Quest Quest Quest Quest
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Want to watch author Ruta Sepetys talk about the true history behind Between Shades of Grey? Click above!
Between Shades of Grey, has a central theme of human value which is expressed in the quote above. In the novel, Sepetys provides many examples of human beings treat those who are inferior to them poorley.During World War II Jewish civilians were put into concentration camps where they were forced to work and live in horrible conditions, were fed poorly, and were tortured almost every day. However, before they even got to these camps, many Jewish civilians were completely slaughtered and divided within their families. The value of a Jewish life was not valuable to the Nazis in any way. This is demonstrated in Ruta Sepetys’ Between Shades of Grey, by the fact that her mother Elena traded an old family pocket watch in order to keep Lina's younger brother Jonas with them in their group. (Thus explaining the quote above). In the novel Males who could work were being separated from all females. Jonas was taken by a Russian soldier and was put on a separate train from his mother and sister. His mother argued with the soldier and bribed him with a pocket watch in order to keep her son in the same group as her. The trade of a watch is symbolic because the watch represents time. Time is important because when the Jewish civilians were captured, they never knew when they would be killed or when they would die of mal nutrition or other forms of abuse. One could further say that Elena giving up the pocket watch was symbolic in that she was giving up time for her son Jonas to be able to live. This also further proves Elena’s Selflessness. At the end of the book, Elena dies while they are in a Siberian camp, however it is revealed that she found ways to give her rations and provide extra care for both Lina and Jonas which leads the reader to believe that this was reason Elena died.To further explain, the lack of food and warmth over time may have caused Elena’s death because she was sacrificing her food and blankets for her children’s sake. A Jewish civilian’s life had very little value during the World War II era in the eyes of the Nazis. So little in fact, that a pocket watch was able to keep a young boy from dying and extend his time on Earth. Watch Ruta Sepetys talk about Between Shades of Grey above!
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Ruta SepetysAmerican Novelist Ruta Sepetys is the other of the New York Times Bestseller, Between Shades of Grey. Ruta Sepetys was born November 19th, 1967 and eventually began her career as a Lithuanian-American writer. Between Shades of Grey was published March 22, 2011 and has been published in over 22 languages. Sepetys says she got the inspiration for the novel from her family history.
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