Joseph Joffo

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Recommended: World history chapter 29 world war 2

Autobiography is about self-reflection, expressing a personal distinctive view which, in a broader context, can be a commentary on the human condition and a statement on the morality and ethics of one’s personal history. It is about the recounting of selective experiences as seen through the eyes of the author, and although events of certain autobiographies may have been embellished and others not taken place at all, this style of writing is supposed to be sensitive to what actually happens. The sum of events represent the complex value-laden perceptions of a world filled with extremes of both good and evil. A Bag of Marbles, by Jewish author Joseph Joffo is one such example of an autobiographical work that attempts to educate readers about the horrors of the WWII in France. The novel balances this portrayal with light-hearted moments during the boys’ journey toward freedom. Moreover,the author’s introspective …show more content…

His father tells him it’s “Better to take a slap that hurts than lose your life.”(citation film) During their adventure, the young brothers come into contact with many people, some of whom exhibit moral bravery by risking their lives to protect the boys from the Nazis. They discover that they must make judgments about whom they can or should trust. A priest on the train risks his own life to save the boys, motivated by the fact that “all children belong to God.”(citation) A Jewish physician comes to their rescue, when he lies about the reason for their circumcisions. He later tells Joseph, “If you keep fighting, holding on tight to life in your fist, you'll make it. Do something with your life you can be proud of.”(citation) JoJo is encouraged to keep going and to never give up fighting for survival by keeping up a brave exterior as a cover for his deep

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