The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen Themes Analysis Essay Example

Introduction - In The Devil’s Arithmetic, by Jane Yolen, we meet a girl named Hannah who hates family gatherings. Hannah finds herself in a great number of different events, some boring events, and some life-threatening situations. A few themes we can grasp from the novel are how the past can be important in understanding the present, how family is forever, and how sacrifices don’t have to be asked for in order for them to be made.

Body Paragraph 1 - To begin, Hannah learns the past can be important in understanding the present. Hannah initially shows hate toward her heritage. She doesn’t want to visit the Passover Seder dinner and thinks it shouldn’t be celebrated, since all they talk about areb dead relatives. Before dinner, she spends time at her friend Rosemary's house, where she eats another meal. Rosemary isn't Jewish. That is a good thing for Hannah as the author states that “Hannah actively avoids anyone of a similar background to her own." During the Holocaust, many families were destroyed. As a result, the families of survivors, like her family, have a greater appreciation of their own lives, knowing that their ancestors were able to survive a horrific event, and thus can not be forgotten.

Body Paragraph 2 - Another theme that Hannah learns in this story is that family is forever. Hannah's relationship with her family later shifts from great detachment to extreme appreciation. While experiencing the short lifetime of Chaya Abramowicz, Hannah grows near Gitl and the other girls within the Nazi Concentration camp. Though they're not members of her immediate family, Hannah sees them as important versions of herself. Their lives intertwine with hers (and Chaya's) and help create the elements of her existence. Hannah sees how she must play a role in their lives and take more of a lively part in her circle of relatives. Hannah sees family as those around her within the camp with whom she has no familial relationship. In this case, we can see that this theme goes along the lines of humanity. Hannah treats her friends Shifre, Rachel, and Esther like family, and they all struggle to survive in these dark times. Similarly, she acts to save Leye's baby, not because she has to, but because she feels it's the correct thing to try to do.

Body Paragraph 3 - Hannah also learns that important and unwanted sacrifices are great ones. To survive their ordeal within the camp, the prisoners sacrifice a lot. Many of them, including Hannah, give their lives within the hope of saving others. Rivka repeatedly risks her own life to assist Hannah and Gitl in becoming familiar with life within the camp. She teaches them the maximum amount as she tries to assist their chances. Hannah sacrifices herself for Rivka in turn. Hannah almost gets executed when she speaks to Commandant Breuer about Reuven. Hannah's instincts of protection take over and here we can see some similarities between Reuven and Hannah's brother, Aaron. Unable to save him, Hannah is overcome with guilt and anger, wishing she was ready to sacrifice more to save him or, failing that, join him in death. Hannah also risks death to save Leye's baby when the Commandant goes to the camp. She takes the unattended child to the trash bin and hides in the filth with him, dirtying his clothes but saving his life. Altogether these instances, her selflessness and lack of concern for her well-being, go along with Grandpa Will’s words about sacrifice during the Seder dinner. Hannah pours out her entire glass of wine rather than the required sip for the prophet. Grandpa Will states that Hannah's sacrifice is greatest because it had been an unasked donation. Though Hannah knows she was simply obviating the wine she didn't want, his words carry meaning for the other times in which Hannah acted out of goodness and concern for others.

Conclusion - In conclusion, we can see how Hannah connects and has a great bond with her past, her family, and sacrifice and how she changes throughout the story.