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Self-Sacrifice In The Diary Of Anne Frank

Decent Essays

Throughout history there have been many wars, as a result many people died. During WWII the Nazis decided to kill off an entire race/ religion of people. Most people die because they are Jews. Other people die sacrificing their lives to do what is right. Self-sacrifice is “giving up something you want or something you desire for the greater good or to help others.” In the book/play, “The Diary of Anne Frank” A woman named Miep Gies risked her non-Jewish, somewhat free, life to help Otto Frank’s family and more, to hide, and escape the grasp of the Nazis. In the book “In My Hands” A woman named Irene Gut Opdyke, Hid 12 Jews in a cellar, meanwhile she was risking a great job, and a bed to sleep in. Both Amazing women, in the time of war, …show more content…

Irene had an incredible job (for the war time), she had a place to sleep, and things were about as luxurious as it could get during this time. Irena becomes aware of the horrors occurring in the nearby Jewish ghetto and smuggles extra food from the hotel (where she works) to the Jews working in the laundry mat below her at work, even knowing she could be sentenced death for her actions. Irene manages to smuggle them into a Villa just before the final extermination of the Jews occurs. She keeps them hidden for a good amount of time until Major Rügemer finds 2 out of the 12 people hiding. In order for her to keep the Jews in hiding, Irene had to either sacrifice her body or sacrifice the lives of her, and others. She chose to sacrifice her body. Irene states, “I knew I had to bear this shame alone. I could never tell my friends how I brought there safety. Their honor would never allow me to hold this bargain” (191). Through this quote, the author shows us that this is direct characterization using her words and actions. In this whole book, Irene has sacrificed her life, body, and job just to keep her friends safe. This is also true of Miep in the book “The Diary of Anne

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