Analysis Of Salt To The Sea By Ruta Sepetys

During times of war people can lose everything, yet still experience hope, family, and love. In the historical fictional novel Salt to the Sea, by Ruta Sepetys, a group of refugees escaping German and Russian forces during WWII are able to find love, hope, and family in one another. On the refugee's journey to the Wilhelm Gustloff, supporting characters Heinz (also known as the Shoe Poet) and Klaus discover faith and the aspect of family in each other. Similarly to main character, Emilia, who develops a strong relationship built by the building blocks of love and faith within her baby, Halinka. Despite the novel consisting of the pain and adversity, the characters endure during their escape to freedom; love, family, and hope are recurring themes that shine throughout the novel.

Through times of misery and desolation, Heinz finds the essence of family through Klaus, which sparks a flame of hope for Heinz. After boarding the Gustloff, Klaus reminds Hienz that there is still hope for a new, bright future. This fills an empty void in Hienz, which reminds him to keep persevering no matter how hard things get, “I

‘The boy keeps me kicking.’(314). Klaus continually encourages Hienz to have a positive attitude, because a better future is yet to come. Because Heinz and Klaus’s bond becomes stronger and stronger, Heinz decides to adopt the role of being Klaus’s Opi (Grandfather), giving Klaus a new family ever since his grandmother died, “‘Will you give the little one to the Red Cross in Kiel?’ I asked. ‘I don't think I could bear it,’ said the shoe maker. ‘I quite like being Opi.’”(315). Despite being total strangers in the beginning, Heinz takes Klaus under his wing which eventually leads them to form a strong family esque relationship . Klaus and Heinz were constantly faced with hardships, but they continue to carry on with the support from one another, providing each other with a strong sense of family and