Parallel Journey Sparknotes

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Writing Assignment #1
In the book, Parallel Journeys, the author, Eleanor Ayer, shows how two individuals as well as their loved ones are affected by life-changing events that take place in their lives during the Holocaust. In this part of the book, World War II has just recently taken a turn towards the start of the eradication of non-Aryans. Although Helen, a jew living in Amsterdam Holland, and Alfons, a member of the Hitler Youth, both go through transformative experience, their lives are much different.
During Kristallnacht, not only Nazis, but also anyone who wanted to attack Jews and their possessions. Jewish people living in Germany were at great danger; business were destroyed, homes were searched, synagogues were taken over, and much more. Helen is affected when, “A ‘helpful’ neighbor had shown (the SA) where in the …show more content…

In order to solve his dilemma, he asks one of his teachers for advice. “‘Do you think I should except?’ I ask one of my teachers. ‘Why not?’ he replied in some astonishment. ‘Doesn't it be slugging around in the general Hitler Youth?’ ‘Maybe so,’ I said, ‘ but I'm not crazy about heights.’ ‘Don’t be dumb, Heck,’ he advised. ‘Aim for the Luftwaffe”’ (72). Even though it may seem like the teacher is trying to give Alfons honest advice, the reader can infer that the teacher is simply trying to persuade Heck accomplish ‘his dreams’. The teacher, also, creates a goal for Heck to one day accomplish, and also makes his predicament on whether to fly or not seem like a ‘no-brainer’. Hitler persuaded people so well that his brainwashed victims would then do the same for younger Germans, and then so on. Heck, by joining the Nazi Youth, has lost his freedom to think for himself, even though when he believes he still can, others have/will influence him into making the choice that others believe

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