The Shawl free essay sample

Symbolism in the Shawl In the short story The Shawl, the author Cynthia Ozick uses many symbols and imagery to illustrate the brutality of concentration camps during World War II. What makes the shawl unique from other stories that have chronicled the horrors of Nazism, is the way Cynthia Ozick bring the characters to life. She never directly says the characters are in a concentration camp. Instead, she describes the color of the characters hair as being nearly as yellow as the star sewn in Rosas coat. Ozicks powerful yet distinctive simple language helps the reader visualize the heart wrenching expedition the characters must venture through. The shawl represents several diverse elements in the story. (McCool,1) Throughout the story the shawl represents a source of warmth and protection for the baby Magda. As Rosa (her mother) cradles Magda on the lurid march, the shawl essentially hid the baby from the horros of the camp. We will write a custom essay sample on The Shawl or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Ozick paints a vivid picture of Rosas commitment to Magda. For instance, when Ozick describes how Rosa clung to the shawl as if it covered only herself, its becomes apparent that Rosa put up a fight to keep her daughter alive. The shawl also physically keeps Magda alive. It magically nourishes Magda when Rosas breasts can no longer produce milk, by providing milk of Strigglers 2 linen. It also shielded her from the black deposits the bad wind carried that made Stella and Rosas eyes tear. Magda eyes were always tearless. The fact that despite the conditions the baby never cried only adds to the ironies of the story. In most cases when a child is in an uncomfortable environment, or goes without food for any amount of time its normal for them to cry. Even in the situation Magda is in she does not cry. Almost as if her life could be in jeopardy if she were to cry. The shawl is a source of companionship for her as well. During the march Rosa notices Magda laugh and is confused at how shes learned to laugh when shes never seen anyone laugh. The shawl is also referred to as the sister Magda never had. Without the shawl Magda would be separated from her life source and will be completely vulnerable. The shawl was her secret existence. (Gale,1) Ozicks characters Magda, Rosa and Stella represent three layers of interpretation. Magda bundled in the magical shawl represents Life. After reading the relationship between the baby and the shawl you experience feelings of warmth and imagination. Rosa, who advances to a stage where she no longer experiences hunger and becomes a floating angel represents spirit. Stella, weakened by the physical torture, becomes so cold that it has seeped into her hardened heart. She represents death. Metaphorically, when Rosa or spirits attention is drawn away, death, jealous of the warmth of life, retrieves the lifes source, the shawl. Once the life of Magda, the shawl, was taken away she was instantly discovered and her life brutally extinguished. Both Rosa and Magda lives are consistently symbolic throughout the story. Rosa is given characteristics of those of an angel. For instance, when Ozick describes Rosas walk on the march she says she Strigglers 3 feels light, like someone in a faint, someone who is already a floating angel in the air. Also when Rosa chases the wandering Magda Rosa is so light she can fly. Rosa flew, She could fly; she was only air, into the arena. Magda had angelic features as well. He blonde hair blue eyes and fair skin fits the stereotypical image of an angel. Her hair was like feathers, breath smells like almonds and cinnamon. Ozick also uses language to humanize and dehumanize her characters. Magda is repeatedly compared to a butterfly and a moth . The imagery shows the irony. A butterfly has gone through the metamorphosis stages already. Similar to a moth Magda is headed towards a flame, or her death. Much of the air imagery suggests that the captives future is doomed. For instance, the air of the camp is an ash- stippled wind carrying a bitter fatty floating smoke. The air imagery also symbolizes starvation. Both Rosa and Magda are both slowly turning into air. The babys belly is described as ballonish, air-fed and fat with air. (Gale,1) The three days and three nights the shawl protects Magda are a dark and tragic inversion of the Christian belief that Christ passed through death and was brought back to life. Magda experiences three days of magical life, and then death. Rosa, Stella and Magdas situation seems to worsen throughout the story. Although their lives seem grim and hopeless there are moments with sparks of hope that surface. The turning point of the story occurs when Stella steals the shawl and Magda becomes exposed. Stellas excuse for stealing the shawl was that she was cold. Not only is the theft in itself cruel the shawl was the only warmth and comfort Magda had. Once it was taken away from her it forced the only cry from her fragile body. Ironically, the cry draws not Rosas attention but that of the gurads. What should bring love instead brings death. (McCool,1)