Michelle Robbins

Assignment 1: József, a young intellectual man beyond his years, lived with his parents and three siblings in a small town in Hungary near the Austrian border. He comes from a powerful and influential family that lives a comfortable lifestyle. Unbeknownst to them, their lives will be threatened by WWII. József is taken to a forced labor camp, where he’s stripped from his aristocratic veneer, revealing a core of resilience he never knew he possessed. Assignment 2: The echo of bombings haunted József’s dreams. Even decades after the liberation, he was transported back to the bleak expanses of Auschwitz. The horrors of the war were etched into his soul, an indelible mark left by an antagonist who, though long gone, continued to exert a malevolent force over his life: Adolf Hitler. József’s days were lived between normalcy and the shadows of his past. He lived in a world away from the barbed wire and watchtowers of his youth. Yet, Hitler’s specter lingered, manifesting in unexpected moments in József’s classrooms. Holding on to his principles, and with a trembling voice, he began to speak. At first, each sentence was a struggle. But soon, the memories flowed, and each tear he cried became a cathartic release. He spoke of his family and friends he had lost; their faces still vivid in his mind. He spoke about the small acts of defiance, the glimmers of hope that had sustained him. Through his lectures, József began to see himself not as a victim, but as a survivor—a testament to resilience in the face of unimaginable evil. József reclaimed his narrative to grasp control from the lingering shadow of his tormentor. Assignment 3: 1. József, the Pocket Watch, and Their Journey: Based on a True Story 2. From Chains to Freedom: the Story of József, a Hungarian WWII Survivor 3. A Pocket Watch for Freedom Assignment 4: Ticket to the New World by Tánia Juste-The story is about 20th century migration from Spain to Argentina and the challenges faced by the main character while settling. The Time in Between: the Seamstress, and Sira by Maria Dueñas- These are books (and TV series on Netflix) about a seamstress turned spy in times of war. Although my character didn’t turn into a spy, due to the nature of the historical setting, Dueñas’ narratives are ‘ongoing’ with several ‘cliffhangers’ along the way. Paula by Isabel Allende- As so many other books by Isabel Allende, most of her stories are inspired by her personal experiences. Allende’s historical fiction/thrillers are often cited as magic realism; a genre associated with the works of Gabriel García Marquez. Assignment 5: József walked several times along the periphery of the temple and looked at the hands of those present hoping to see his mother’s watch. It was useless: the pocket watch was gone. József felt the lump in his throat choking him. Assignment 6: Inner Conflict: József is a typical adolescent who questions authority except, in his case, with confidence and intellect. But his comfort and security are threatened by the Nazis. He’s soon captured and sent to a forced labor camp aware that he will never see his family again, or will he? He doesn’t know what the future holds, but he knows one thing: that he wants to survive. Secondary Conflict: The close relationships József builds with friendships (Jani, then the priest, Vittorio) and family, are always threatened by the character’s uncontrollable fate. However, every lost relationship leads to something new. Is József’s destiny causal or circumstantial? Assignment 7: WWII is the historical setting that drives the plot forward because it serves as the catalyst for the storyline, creating conflict and influencing József’s' journeys. The circumstances József endures during WWII ground the narrative (in a specific time and place) that allows an understanding of the societal conditions, the political climates, and religious controversies. The storyline revolves around József grappling with other political, economic, and societal turmoil that threatens his principles post-war. The historical circumstances are the force that force József into becoming who he becomes, allowing for a deep understanding of his character development. Furthermore, József’s character continues to be influenced by his grappling with oppressing forms of government in various countries. As he escapes from one, he seems to find himself in another political upheaval, which affects his motivations and decisions.