Refugee pages 110-128

Summary

The transcript weaves together the stories of three refugees at different points in history: Joseph fleeing Nazi Germany on a ship in 1939, Isabel escaping Cuba in 1994, and Mahmud trying to flee Syria in 2015. Each narrative reflects the harrowing journey of survival, the tension of uncertain futures, and the hope of finding safety. From Joseph's struggle with his father on the ship to Isabel's near-death experience at sea, and Mahmud's desperate attempts to board a boat to Greece, the transcript highlights the resilience and determination of refugees facing adversity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Joseph’s father, Aaron, is deeply traumatized by his past experiences in Nazi Germany, causing him to panic on the ship, fearing it will turn around and return them to the dangers they fled from.
• 😀 Joseph tries to calm his father by lying about the funeral being at sea, using the death of a fellow passenger, Professor Wheeler, to explain the ship’s slowing down.
• 😀 The funeral for Professor Wheeler, a Jewish tradition, reveals the tension on board as Nazi party member Schneider tries to impose the burial of the body under the Nazi flag, which sparks a confrontation with Joseph's father.
• 😀 The ship's captain, Schroeder, defies Schneider's demand and protects Joseph's father from further aggression, demonstrating a rare act of authority and moral courage on the ship.
• 😀 Joseph and his father attend the funeral where they throw sand into the sea, a Jewish ritual, and observe the burial of Professor Wheeler, marking a poignant moment of connection to their heritage and a reminder of the horrors of the past.
• 😀 The story shifts to a tense moment aboard a small boat in 1994, where the family of Isabel, on a perilous journey, narrowly escapes a massive tanker, which nearly capsizes their boat.
• 😀 As the family struggles with the boat's engine and panic sets in, a close call with the tanker emphasizes the dangers and the chaos of fleeing in overcrowded, unsafe conditions.
• 😀 The story transitions to Mahmud’s journey in 2015, where he and his family face constant delays and frustrations while waiting for a boat to leave Turkey and cross the sea to safety.
• 😀 Mahmud's family experiences the cruelty of smugglers, who exploit refugees, as they are forced to pay exorbitant amounts for uncertain passage and are faced with endless delays and empty promises.
• 😀 The family finally finds a moment of hope when an elderly Palestinian man, Mr. Nasir, helps them by offering a place to stay temporarily and promising to take them to the boat once it’s ready, sharing his own story of displacement from Palestine.
• 😀 The family’s hope is renewed when they finally see the boat waiting for them, symbolizing a possible escape from the ongoing hardships of displacement and the prospect of a new beginning in Europe.

Q & A

What is the primary theme of the transcript?

The primary theme of the transcript is the harrowing experiences of refugees as they attempt to escape their respective countries, including the fear, uncertainty, and struggles they face during their journeys. The narrative touches on the emotional and physical toll of fleeing from war, political persecution, and the hope for a better future.

Why does Joseph's father become so panicked on the ship?

Joseph's father, Aaron Landau, is panicked because he believes the ship is turning back to Germany, where he fears he and his family would be sent back to face Nazi persecution. His paranoia is exacerbated by the ship slowing down, and he fears that the Nazis are after them.

What does Joseph do to calm his father during the funeral scene?

To calm his father, Joseph tells him that the ship is slowing down for a funeral, not because they're turning back. He emphasizes that the deceased, Professor Wheeler, died of cancer and not from Nazi persecution. This helps calm his father temporarily, although he is still deeply affected.

What conflict arises during the funeral at sea?

The conflict arises when Otto Schneider, the Nazi Party leader on board, insists that the body of Professor Wheeler be covered with the Nazi flag, as required by German law. Joseph's father strongly objects, calling it sacrilege, leading to a tense confrontation. The captain intervenes to prevent further escalation.

What does Joseph's father mean when he says he is a 'ghost' of the man he once was?

Joseph’s father refers to himself as a 'ghost' to express the emotional and psychological toll that his past experiences in Nazi Germany have taken on him. He feels disconnected from the man he once was, likely due to trauma and suffering from his time in the concentration camp of Dachau.

How does the scene with the tanker highlight the dangers refugees face at sea?

The tanker scene illustrates the dangers refugees face at sea as they navigate shipping lanes in small, vulnerable boats. The tanker’s massive size and its close proximity create a life-threatening situation for the refugees. The tension increases as the boat risks capsizing under the waves generated by the tanker.

How does Isabel’s family react when their boat is nearly hit by the tanker?

Isabel’s family is terrified as their small boat is nearly torn apart by the tanker. Panic sets in, and they try to start the boat’s engine to avoid being hit. The situation becomes more dire as the engine fails, and they are almost capsized by the waves, leading to further distress as one of the refugees falls overboard.

What is the significance of Mahmood’s family’s experience with the smuggler in Izmir?

The experience with the smuggler in Izmir highlights the uncertainty and frustration that refugees face while waiting for the opportunity to escape. Mahmood's family repeatedly faces broken promises about departure dates, causing emotional strain. This portrays the desperate, often futile, nature of relying on smugglers to escape dangerous situations.

How does Mahmood’s encounter with the elderly man at night change his family’s circumstances?

Mahmood's encounter with the elderly man, who offers them a place to stay, provides a temporary respite for the family. The man, a Palestinian refugee, offers them shelter in his car dealership office, which gives Mahmood and his family a place to sleep and a break from the harsh reality of their refugee journey.

What is Mahmood’s emotional state as he waits for the boat to Greece?

Mahmood experiences a mix of frustration, desperation, and hope. He is tired of the constant waiting and uncertainty, and although he tries to remain hopeful when he hears the boat is finally ready, he has learned not to get his hopes up. His emotional state reflects the toll that the refugee experience takes on individuals, especially young people like him.