The Shawl

Cynthia Ozick's "The Shawl" is a haunting story told in an omniscient third-person point of view. "The Shawl" tells a story about Rosa, her infant daughter Magda, and her niece Stella during World War II residing in a concentration camp, "in a place without pity" (224). It begins with their fearful journey, described as "cold, cold the coldness of hell" (223) to a concentration camp. The setting serves as the foundation in this story and the holocaust. describes a vivid, unimaginable experience of three Jewish hostages duringemphasizes the theme of overwhelming hopelessness.

In The Shawl Rosa, her infant daughter Magda, and her fourteen year old companion Stella are Jews interned in a concentration camp during World War II. Amazingly the infant Magda has survived with her mother, hidden and protected in a shawl. If the Nazis ever learn of her existence she is certain to be killed. The Setting of this story sets the reader up for a sad story. Just by knowing the story takes place in a concentration camp, the reader immediately feels sorrow for these three characters. The story starts off with the 3 characters walking down a dirt path. The story is written in 3rd person limited, so you can only get into the characters thoughts at certain times. You can tell by Rosa's thoughts of leaving Magda on the street for someone to find, that she is very disgruntled and not thinking very clearly. The story tells about Magda's attachment to the shawl, and how it eases her and gives her peace. Throughout the walk down the road, you see that both Rosa and Stella are both envious of Magda's ...