Do you find The Women in the Castle holds insight for our own time?
Created: 02/10/18
Replies: 14
Join Date: 10/15/10
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Join Date: 09/08/12
Posts: 81
Absolutely. With all the turmoil in the Middle East and Northern Africa there is a tendency to make generalizations that all people are terrorists or political supporters. I am sure the characters created in the book exist in reality in these areas (and others) offering friendship and protection in violent times.
Join Date: 08/07/11
Posts: 54
I believe that for many of us that insight has always been present. I believe that many of us do try to help and save other people and that many of us don't. More and more women are beginning to stand up and speak out. Perhaps from my "aged" perspective I find some of it a little tiresome and silly, but I applaud all women for uniting in the name of doing what is right, for accepting those who are different, for helping ourselves and those who are less fortunate, and for taking an active part and making ourselves heard. We have always been on that path, and it becomes less arduous to gain and hold our ground.
Join Date: 02/05/16
Posts: 381
It does. Understanding how seemingly good, ordinary people can go along with a movement like Nazism is very important if we in America today are going to resist a similar threat to our pluralistic, open society and protect our alleged democracy. In a way, the portraits of Ania and Benita are more helpful as a warning here, than is Marianne's example of resistance, because Marianne comes from a position of privilege that most Americans do not enjoy. She may suffer some of the consequences of war, but she is sheltered in a way the others are not. But she is an example of one quality we all need:the willingness to face reality and not look away, and the willingness to try to do what we can. And her failing, her readiness to judge the compromises others have had to make to survive, is also a message for our time. We need forgiveness and compassion as much as we need vigilance and courage.
Join Date: 04/02/13
Posts: 109
I do not. We live in a time where things happen not in a vacuum as they did during the war, but very much out in the open. Because of social media's prevalence everywhere the repercussions of all actions, good or bad, are immediate. Choices that were made by human beings during wars as recently as the mid-20th century would not be relevant or practical today.
Join Date: 03/11/12
Posts: 102
Yes - even with 24/7 news and social media there is and unfortunately always will be turmoil in the world and individuals that utilize guerilla tactics, think of themselves as freedom fighters while others view them as terrorists. Today and throughout history people have a tendency to generalize / stereotype people living / from those regions, religions, etc. I am confident that there always have been / always will be brave and compassionate people that offer / will offer protection and friendship seeking to know the individual vs stereotyping.
Join Date: 04/20/16
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Join Date: 10/30/17
Posts: 7
Absolutely. I think we're facing dangerous times with the division we face today in the US. Race relations, immigration, gun control and partisan politics are separating this country. There are followers and protestors that are unwilling to talk, let along compromise. The German people in this book out of fanaticism or fear were led to do unspeakable things. We cannot let violence or intolerance squash our voices. It's our right to ask questions and disagree but we must find a peaceful way.
Join Date: 05/19/11
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Join Date: 02/15/18
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I believe the women in the book reflect many instances which exist today, depending upon where one resides or what one experiences. Marianne wanting a normal life for her children, wanting to help others, living out her sense of duty. Ania taking advantage of a situation, for better or worse, to escape a harmful situation. Benita who finds a sense of purpose through her child and then finding she has nothing more to live for when her son goes away to school and she cannot find a job. I think there are a lot of lessons for today in the book.
Join Date: 04/22/11
Posts: 34
Ania says near the end of the book that there was no atonement for all the lies she told herself (about the Nazis, those babies in the woods) instead of acting. She says she will pay for her inaction, her self-deception, for narrating away evil while staring it in the face. There’s a lesson for everyone, everywhere, at all times that evil grows in complacency. That we all should feel morally bound to speak up against injustice, tyranny, and evil in any of its forms.
Join Date: 01/06/18
Posts: 65
Absolutely. Heed the warning signs from the current administration: ongoing lies, "loyalty", control of the media, blaming non-white immigrants, nepotism, personal alliances with dictators, shady business practices, lack of decency in personal affairs, etc.
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