Stones From The River
Ursula Hegi's novel, Stones From The River, exposes the reader of the persecutions of religious beliefs, a gossiping dwarf, and the people of Burgdorf, a small German town in the time of the Nazi Holocaust. The novel is set in World War I and continues through World War II. The Second World War is brought on by the hunger of power it is known as the otherness war. "In the Third Reich otherness is a crime."(Chadwick 2) Hitler, a Nazi leader, wants to gain control of Germany and surrounding countries. Hitler is a feared name even in our society today. We see things through the narrator's eyes. The novel has many flat characters in it. However, some characters are more developed than others are. Each character has a connection to the narrator whether he/she is a friend, a neighbor, or a bully at school. This novel is unique to Hegi because of her background. She lives in a "suburb of "Dusseldorf" before she immigrates to the United States in 1965" (Simon 1). It was unusual for her to write about this because the people who survive the holocaust never will talk about the past, they all believe in the 'tight lip' philosophy. In the novel Jews, Catholics, and Protestants become victims of the Nazis. Religious prejudices
Hegi brings in literary symbolism throughout her novel. There are superstitions that, "Lucifer tortured pagans and Catholics who had died without confessing their mortal sins,"(Hegi 58) are abundant in Hegi's novel. The reader is given references into other literary works such as Dante's Pilgrimage. There is the description of "Lucifer used to be an angel before he fell from the sky and became the devil. Purgatory is hot, but not as hot as hell."(Hegi 58) This quote refers to Dante's travel through purgatory before getting to hell where Lucifer awaits him. The other literary reference is to The Bible. There are references to the flood and to the divine fruit related to the story of Adam & Eve. Many authors refer to other literary works. Literature is not as popular today as it was in previous history. People do not seem to read the classics like Canterbury Tales, Shakespeare, and The Odyssey unless they are required to do so do a class. Now people seem to be more interested in popular fiction, the Inquirer and magazines. Hegi introduces the reader to a number of characters, come more developed than others. Leo Montag, Trudi's father, is a developed character, who has an old war injury to his leg. He spends many years trying to understand his wife's illness. After his Gertrudes death, numerous women flirt with Herr Montag, to bring him back his happiness with a possible marriage. Frau Abramowitz is the greatest of the women. Trudi "could tell that Frau Abramowitz liked her father - not just because she enjoyed bringing them things...but because she confided in him." (Hegi 110) Unfortunately for Frau Abramowitz her husband would not approve. The other females in Burgdorf also envied the love and compassion that Leo Montag has given Gertrude through the years. "The women released their secrets to Leo because they longed to be understood, loved."(Hegi 246) However, Leo who feels the guilt of his wife's death will never remarry. After Gertrudes death he has Herr Abramowitz take pictures of her in her coffin. He hangs these pictures in his bedroom to always remember her. Leo Montag has a good heart. He enjoys helping others, playing chess, and listening to his women customers at the pay-library. Men that are good listeners are hard to find. Females in our society look for several outstanding qualities in a man. Leo Montag posses them all. Hegi has created the ideal man for her readers even though he is not the main character of the story. Hegi brings in the socilocultural problems of today, such as prayer in school into the novel. "And the praying, even though we aren't allowed to pray in school, I used to say a short prayer before and after lessons," but now we are not allowed says Ingrid. (Hegi 304) Schools today have banned religion from their studies, unless you go to a religious school. Kids today are out of control. We have gang violence, rape, and teen pregnancy. Teach the kids about the different types of religion and see the teenage crime decline. However, this may not be true in some areas. We as a society pray everyday. We ask for forgiveness, to get an "A" on a test, and to make it home safely. We need to set a better religious example for our kids and allow them the freedom to pray in school if they feel the need. In a religiously diverse community such as the one we live in. We can allow our students to form clubs and have meetings in the school. However, many school districts in our community frown on more than one 'bible study'. What are they doing about the other religions? Trudi yearned to live a normal life. Teachers, priests, Gestapo, and her peers ostracize her. In the small town of Burgdorf there are not many that do not know her. Trudi wants love, marriage, and sex. She looks through the marriage ads sometimes to possibly find a husband. Unfortunately, she doesn't think she will because of her differentness. However, she took the liberty to answer an ad. Sh
Some common words found in the essay are:
Malter Trudi, Ingrid Hegi, Jewish Trudi, St Nickolaus, Trudi Hegi, Gertrude Trudi, Hitler Nazi, World Wars, Leo Montag, Nazis Religious, leo montag, world war, frau abramowitz, throughout novel, world war ii, klaus malter, pray school, trudi loves, war brought, trudi hegi, war ii,
Approximate Word count = 2768
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)
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