Why do you think the author made the decision to make Feuermann Jewish? Did you find parallels between the two and their families? How about differences?

Lucius's best friend in school was Feuermann. Why do you imagine the author made the decision to make this character Jewish? Did you find parallels between the two and their families? How about differences?

I read a couple of articles that indicated that the Jewish population of Vienna during this period was around 8 to 10% and that about 50% of doctors were Jewish so the likelihood of there being a Jewish med student in the same class as Lucius would be fairly likely. Also they were both outsiders, in different ways, so it might be expected they would drift together. I did not see parallels in their families but there were differences. One rich, one poor, and one loved by the father and the other unloved by the mother.

I thought that Lucius friendship with Feuermann was a way to show that he was going against his family in his choice of companions. The relationship that Feuremann had with his father as evidenced by his frequent letters home from the front was very different from the lack of communication between Lucius and his family.

Really hard to discern why this choice was made. It is complicated by the fact that we all know the prejudice and tragedy of WWII. Although the prejudice was clearly already there it was clearly not as virulent as it became in the 30s which allowed Hitler’s rise. The statistics cited by peggyt give a good explanationfor making his friend Jewish. The friendship, regardless of culture, allows an excellent contrast between families and relationships between children and parents.

A good choice to show the difference between a Jewish father and son and an aristocratic Polish/Austrian father and son. I don't think that there was any more intended by the author than that. To suggest that there was something there to which we can ascribe the Holocaust is not correct.

For years Jews were the scourge of Europe - this didn't just start with Hitler. Feuermann was a good man, good doctor, and a good friend to Lucius. His modest home showed Lucius just how hard Feuermann had struggled to raise himself socially. Lucius' experience of Jews was probably extremely limited as they were not in his social class. Aside from the obvious father/son parallels I did not see other parallels between the two or their families. Differences were clearly around money and social class.

There are many instances of Jews who served in Germany and Austria in World War I whose homes, property and lives were taken away during the Holocaust.

Cannot identify the "why" in the decision to make Feuerman Jewish or the "parallels" between the two and their families. The differences were profound however. Completely different backgrounds, class and culture. Completely different relationship between the fathers and sons.
Interestingly, I think they were drawn to each other in friendship as they were both very different...both socially isolated and as Lucius admits he was awkward in conversation (his stutter).