Anne Holm I Am David Analysis

Each and everyone of us live a journey. A journey that isn’t just about our physical capabilities but instead about ourselves, our life. ‘I am David’ by Anne Holm is a tragic but heartwarming story of a young boy who has been raised in a concentration camp. As the story progresses we soon realise that David does find his freedom. David embarks on what is not only a physical journey but also a journey about life. Through the use of characterisation, plot, setting and theme we as readers are able to understand David’s many encounters with people, places and events and how they help to shape his life experience.

When David first begins to think of “the man”, he is filled with hate; “He saw the man and was conscious, somewhere in the pit of his

stomach, of the hard knot of hate.” However, he soon learns that this hatred then transforms into a level of understanding; “He had hated David on account of his mother who would have nothing to do with him, and at the same time he had looked after him… the danger the man had risked in letting a prisoner escape. And yet he had done it.” Through this experience David has learnt that people have their own intentions and reasons for their actions and whatever is first thought about someone may not necessarily be true. This allowed me as a reader to understand that we must not linger on the bad of the past and allow them to dominate our thoughts, instead to walk ahead with the good in our minds. In the end David has not only embarked on a physical and emotional journey but also one about life.

David had embarked upon a journey where he was needed to visit many countries in order to arrive at his destination, Denmark.

David has had to pass through five countries, namely: Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Switzerland and Germany, and within these five countries he has visited many small towns along the way. This has helped David to learn how to adapt to the cultures and weather conditions of these countries and small towns. This is necessary not only for the fictional character, David, but in life as well.

David’s life has been both shaped by the people who surround him and the places that are around him. However his life is most importantly shaped by the events he encounters along the way. David has seen the death of a good friend, Johannes; “Johannes who at last had fallen to the ground and remained lying there, dead.”. The man had helped shaped David’s life the most for if he did help David to escape he would not have his freedom. Then there were people like Angelo the driver of the lorry that helped David to travel to another town faster than feet. All these has helped David along his journey through life and it is important to take things as they come for when we don’t we will miss something truly important.

“I am David” by Anne Holme is a captivating story that allows its readers to immerse themselves with the past. This story allows its audience to understand how a single person, traumatic event or a memorable place can change one’s perspective on

life