What’s happing here?
On page 47 when Marta is asleep and her brother Ervin is trying to wake her up, I think that Marta is so determined to get back to her dream because she is dreaming of the way things used to be before the war started, simple and happy.
“Go away!” I muttered, turning onto my side, eager to return to my dream. “I’ve got to catch the ball!” Once again, Ervin and I were back in Lake Balaton, both of us waist-high in blue water, droplets glistening on our faces and bodies. Papa was with us, a red beach ball in his hands. He threw the ball in our direction.”
-My Canary Yellow Star, page 47.
You can tell the way she described the dream that she was fond of that memory and would really love to return to it. It shows that Marta misses the times she had in the past, when things were more simple and happy. Now things are very different with the war and so many ridiculous rules for Jewish people like her and her family. It shows you what things used to be like for her, and what they have turned into so quickly, great to horrible.
Why did the character Peter Szabo agree to take Marta to the Casino to dance?
“I want to go dancing. I even know where I want to go – the Casino on Margaret.” Peter paled under his tan. “Marta, we can’t. I was at the Casino with my parents last week. The show doesn’t start until nightfall, long after your curfew. If you are caught by the police or the Gestapo, do you realize what will happen to us?” I knew very well – the threat of deportation loomed large. But I didn’t care. For once, I wanted to forget about the war. I just wanted to enjoy myself. ‘’We won’t be caught. I feel lucky tonight.” “It might be dangerous.” Peter looked worried. “You promised. You said you’d do whatever I wanted to do. I guess you didn’t mean it.” Peter groaned. ‘’Of course I did, idiot that I am. All right, I’ll go, but I want you to know that it’s not the sensible thing to do.”
-My Canary Yellow Star, page 82.
If Peter agreed to take Marta to the Casino after curfew, risking himself getting in trouble and Marta getting deported, he must care a great deal for her. You don’t risk your life for somebody you don’t care about. He did it because thing’s had been going downhill for Marta ever since the war started and all the strict rules were set for the Jewish people like Marta. He wanted to make her happy, and give her a night that was memorable for her, and to take her away from the unhappy place. I think that that was pretty brave, risking his free life to make Marta happier for a while.
I asked myself questions about the work camps. I wasn’t sure if it was the same places that I have read about where they deported the Jewish to, tortured them and put them in gas chambers. Then I remembered that those were called concentration camps. I’m not sure if those are the same things or not, but I know for sure that Jewish people wouldn’t want to go to either.
‘”First having to wear a yellow star, now this,” Ervin said. “You wait and see, Marta. Before long, we’ll be rounded up like cattle and deported to work camps like Grandpa and Gran.” “Shut up!” I cried. “Don’t you let Mama hear you say things like that! Do you want to upset her even more? We don’t know what happened to Grandpa and Gran. Stop imagining the worst! Even if they have been taken away, maybe the camps aren’t such bad places.” I said. “Don’t be so gullible, Marta!” Ervin said. “The postcards people get are fakes! The Nazis force prisoners to write them before killing them. Sam Stein knows. The Resistance knows.”’
-My Canary Yellow Star, pg 61.
It seems like most people- like Marta- don’t want to believe that the work camps are bad places, but deep down they get a feeling that they are horrible places, and once you go there, the chances of you getting out alive are slim.
