Brief Summary Of The Book 'The Cage'

Name: Enzo Cupani
The Cage Essay
Courage is defined as “the ability to do something that frightens one.” This was displayed throughout the memoir The Cage by Ruth Minsky Sender in many places. During the holocaust, many people needed to exhibit courage in order to survive. There were many instances where characters stood up for what they believed in. The nazis struck terror in those who were not seen as equal to Germans and few people stood up to these guards in fear for their lives. Moishe and Catia were just two people who put Rivas lives before their own and stood up to the guards in order to save Riva’s life. Characters throughout the memoir demonstrate strength and courage in the face of fear in order to save lives of those they love.

Moishe is Rivas neighbor in the Ghetto and he notices that Riva is an extremely weakened state and demands she sees a doctor so she would not perish.

The only doctor that Moishe could take Riva required them to cross the Ghetto bridge, and crossing the Ghetto bridge is gambling with your life. Nazi soldiers would take random, uncalled for sniper shots at people with the mindset that they would eventually be killed anyway. Moishe carried Riva in her weakened state all the way across the bridge and made it safely, he did this so he could save Riva’s life, and put her life before his own. This is considered courage because even though Moishe feared for his own life, he feared for Rivas more than his own, and this is the ultimate act of courage. Later on in the memoir when Riva had moved to the concentration camps, bathing in, clean, warm water was strictly forbidden and had untold consequences if caught doing so. Catia is the doctor of the camp, and friend of Riva. After the hard times and suffering, Riva had

endured, Catia had drawn her a bath of clean, warm water, and offered to stand guard while she bathed. The guards thinking that Riva was cleaning the tubs, which was her job at the time, had not suspected a thing at first. After Riva had completed her bath and dried off, she had gone back into the bunks and was stricken with fear as the guard was standing right in front of her. The guard had asked her why her hair was wet, and Catia stayed calm and answered that she had slipped while cleaning the tubs. Catia had put her fear aside in order to help Riva. This was one of many times people had covered for Riva’s illness. This displays courage because Catia putting aside her fear to save another’s life and well-being fits the definition courageous.
Displaying courage was extremely difficult during the holocaust because the people were constantly in fear for their lives. Courage is doing something you are scared of doing and Riva’s friends had proved themselves courageous by risking their own lives to save Riva’s. Putting one’s life and well-being before yours is one of the most courageous act someone can do.