In her novel, Jane Yolen utilizes various forms and techniques to communicate different ideas about the Holocaust, humanity, and storytelling. It is crucial to grasp the significance of this book in order to fully comprehend it. Yolen employs an unconventional structure that engages readers in the quest to unveil Briar Rose's authentic history.
In her novel, Jane Yolen effectively combines the innocence of a fairy tale with the harsh reality of the Holocaust. She achieves this by including the phrase "Once upon a time," which establishes the fairy tale theme and evokes childhood memories associated with these stories. Additionally, she explores themes of innocence and the triumph of good over evil, often resulting in a reassuring "happily ever after."
In every fairy tale, there is darkness and horror, symbolizing the genocide and m
...ass execution of the Holocaust. Yolen includes this for two reasons. Firstly, when Gemma tells Becca her story, she doesn't want to burden her granddaughter with the horrific details of millions of people being murdered. Instead, she presents it as a mysterious fairy tale that challenges Becca's thinking to solve the mystery.
The inclusion of fairy tale elements in Briar Rose allows the reader to engage with the text and enjoy it, while still understanding the severity of the Holocaust. Without these elements, a straightforward depiction of the murder and execution of millions of people by the Nazis would be incredibly distressing and could necessitate counseling.
Jane Yolen employs various themes to convey the message of Briar Rose. Among these themes, two are particularly prominent in Gemma's narrative. The first theme explores the cruel and brutal aspects
of human nature, which is contrasted by acts of heroism and survival. This theme is exemplified by the Holocaust, symbolized through elements such as the barbs of the rose thorns, the color black, and references to mist and sleep.
Both the thorns of the briary hedge surrounding the castle and the barbed wire encircling the camp have a common objective - to establish an insurmountable barrier. Their purpose is to prevent prisoners from accessing the outside world. However, in contrast, the prince has the ability to hear the songs of deceased princes who once experienced suffering within these barriers. Only individuals with bravery can overcome these obstacles.
The guards wear black uniforms to symbolize darkness and evil. The mist is created by carbon monoxide gas emitted by truck exhausts. This gas is then injected into the vans as they transport corpses from Chelmno to Rzuchow, where the bodies are ultimately disposed of in a pit.
Gemma explains to Becca that sleep is everlasting, regardless of its duration, whether it be a thousand years or a hundred years. She emphasizes that sleep is essentially indistinguishable from death.
The rose, children, love, and the fairytale are all symbols of heroism and survival. The rose is both a beautiful example of nature's magic and a reminder of its sharp thorns. Throughout the novel, children represent the continuation and survival of the story. The Berlin children and grandchildren carry on the legacy. Despite the death of Aron, there is hope for the future with a new baby who will give Ksiezniczka the will to live.
The main theme of the novel is love and
its transformative power in overcoming the traumatic effects of the Holocaust. Aron's love for Ksiezniczka leads to her healing, while Josef's love for Aron motivates him to protect both her and her baby. Becca's love for her grandmother is evident through her quest to locate the castle.
The novel highlights the power of fairy tales as symbols. Gemma's version of Sleeping Beauty serves as an allegory for the Holocaust, enabling her to share her past without being consumed by the harsh reality of what she endured. Gemma herself becomes a representation of resilience, mirroring the themes in her story.
In my opinion, Briar Rose is a distinctively crafted and controversially written book that has been brilliantly authored by Jane Yolen. The uncommon and challenging manner in which she has written this book makes it either succeed admirably or fail to make it to your local library. The remarkable structure, techniques, language, setting, and more, are the reasons why I enthusiastically recommend this captivating novel.
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