A HISTORICAL FICTION ADVENTURE NOVEL
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Everything Is Illuminated contains the story of the author founding out about his grandfather, including where he lived, what his life was like, and how he survived the dreadful Holocaust. In order to discover more about his relative, Jonathan Safran Foer set out on a trip to Ukraine. There, he met Alexander, his broken-English speaking translator, and Alexander's grumpy grandfather. Jonathan had brought along a picture of his old grandfather with a young girl who was said to have rescued him from immediate death from Nazis who had attacked their small Jewish village. The names scribbled on the back of the picture read "Safran and Augustine." Jonathan presented this picture to Alexander and his grandfather, and they agreed to find this "Augustine" and ask her about Jonathan's grandfather's history and how she helped him survive the Nazi attacks.
Jonathan, the main character and author, seems to be quite curious, however, his habits get in the way of it. In the book, he wants to find out more about this "Augustine," but he has many struggles along the way, including fear of Alexander's dog, being vegetarian in a meat-eating country, and being unfamiliar with Ukrainian culture. Alexander is a young man, perhaps in his early twenties, who is afraid of not living up to his parents' standards. He feels like a failure for not being exactly like his father, and no one in his family is very proud of him. Alexander's grandfather, also named Alexander, has had many hardships in his long lifetime, and appears to be stone cold to people because of it. Although he sometimes is tough and unforgiving, he does have a soft side that anyone rarely sees. A theme that resonates throughout the novel is the "Like father, like son" relationship and what the son is expected to be. This is best demonstrated Alexander's case. The name Alexander has been passed down for generations in his family. Everyone wants young Alexander to become an accountant, a tough guy, and a ladies man, just like his father. However, Alexander has other plans in mind, which include moving to America and seeing what there is to see. The author is trying to communicate that even though popular thought says to be exactly like your father figure, you don't have to, and you can be your own person, although it is against conformity. |
Foer, Jonathan Safran. Everything Is Illuminated. N.p.: Harper Collins, 2002. Print.