The topics of resilience, resistance, and hope play a role in the lives of Riva and the other characters when they sing. The women at the camp were being dehumanized and mistreated. They were losing hope of living. The Nazis were shaming the Jews for their religion and trying to eliminate their feelings and humanity. The women in Riva’s barracks realized it was Hanukkah and started singing. On page 197, it says, “From the top bunk comes the start of a Hanukkah song: ‘Oh you tiny candlelights, stories you tell.’ slowly, softly, from all corners of the barrack, voices join in. somehow strengthened, raising our voices higher, we all sing.” On page 166, it says, “Rejoice! Sing. Everybody, sing to me, sing! She starts humming a Chopin melody, her …show more content…
There is a kapo with a club in her hand. ‘Silence! Silence, you crazy woman!’” Although the women are captured and tortured at the camp for being Jewish, they stand up for themselves and sing Jewish songs because they have pride in who they are. This is an example of resistance because they refuse to give up what is being taken from them, which is their religion. Singing is one of the activities that helps the girls keep their hopes up that they will be safe soon. When Riva and the other characters write poetry, they demonstrate resistance, resilience, and hope. Riva used to write poetry in the ghetto and continued to do so at the camp. Karola did the same thing. One day at the camp, the guards got bored and decided to have a talent show for Christmas. The camp prisoners had to perform and entertain the guards. Riva and Karola both performed poems that displayed resistance, resilience, and hope. On page 230, it says, “Karola steps up on the platform. The poem tells of a regime that brings slavery and misery to a people and of a new regime that pays back the oppressor with the same misery it caused. A chill goes through my body as I listen to Karola finish in a strong, determined voice.” Karola is resisting the oppression of the Jews by speaking out for