Theme of War in "All The Light We Cannot See" and "Schindler’s List"

It is through the ignition of new ideas that readers are exposed to mixed human emotions, which challenges assumptions and beliefs of ourselves and the wider world through shared and individual human experiences. Anthony Doerr's’ 2014 novel “All the light we cannot see” correlates itself with the ramifications associated with abhorrent war-torn conditions outlining the shared human experience of protagonist Marie Laure and the loving relationship she shares with her father. Similarly, Thomas Keneally 1982 novel, “Schindler’s List” also invites the responder to witness the challenging assumptions of concealing the veracity associated of war, intern allowing the readers to challenge the concept of courage and bravery.

By setting the novel in both France and Germany and employing a dual narrative, Anthony doers evokes the shared experience of the loving relationship between Marie-Laure and her father. The metaphor of “It is as though love for his daughter will outstrip the limits of his body” allows the audience to challenge the ideology of love and how it holds the ability to prevail in times of crisis. Marie’s father builds intricate models of cities as a means of creating new ideas through a 3-D map for her to determine where she lives. The use of dramatic irony “I will never leave, not in a million years” provokes readers understanding regarding the tensions and brutality of war and how it can eradicate family relationships. In contrast, Schindlers list is set out in the midst of WW2 where Keneally uses Schindler as the main protagonist who expresses the notion of love for the Jewish people which transcends any form of capitalist dreams he has. The hyperbole ''Whoever Saves One Life, Save The World Entire” contrasting the effect on the reader that saving one life has such significance into society and its values. The author presents the characterization of Schindler as an anomaly who is 'in deep' in his 'practical engagement in the salvation of human lives' but has no idea of what his rescue efforts will cost him effectively allowing the readers to challenge the notion of love and any connotations of hope.

It is through the use of poignant language and the non-linear structure, that Doerr explores the notion of courage and bravery within his novel All the Light We Cannot See. From the outset, Doerr utilises “in medias res” in conjunction with the rhetorical question, “What is blindness? Where a wall should be, and her hands finds nothing,” conveying Marie-Laure’s perception on her blindness. The use of natural imagery in “We rise again in the grass. In the flowers. In songs.”, challenges reader’s previously held assumptions regarding individual’s resilience and bravery in times of horror and violence. Standing in stark to the Nazi death list is the reoccurring motif of Schindlers list which showcases the essence of life itself “The list is an absolute good. The list is life. All around its margins lies in the gulf.”, symbolising hope and affirming the responder’s perspective of the nature of courage and bravery in times of turmoil. The concept of hope is ignited from acts of bravery and courage as Keneally characterises Schindler as a 'minor god of deliverance, double-faced' who brings hope to his Jewish workers. The repetition of “I could have got more, I could of got more” signifies the importance of every soul to Oskar. Both authors invite us as the audience, to reflect on the importance of courage, and ignite greater insight into the human condition for us to understand ourselves on a deeper, philosophical and moral level.

Hence, both texts kindle the reader’s alarm in contrasting the notion of love and the obligations of war, through the creation of new ideas, allowing the responder to challenge pre-conceived assumptions based upon human experiences and its reflection of love and courage.