Being frail or robust didn't affect how quickly your sense of identity would fade. Placed in such barbaric conditions with animosity and resentment had the potential to dehumanise characters in an instant. Loss of identity was a prominent theme within the novel of The Wrong Boy. Dehumanisation was evident through the events the characters were forced to endure as they were stripped away from their personal attributes and removed any remnants of human dignity. Suzy Zail used a variety of literary techniques of strong characterisation, first person narration and character growth to allow the reader to vividly witness the change of identity within the characters. This is prevalent throughout the novel as the Jews lose their identity within the entrance of Auschwitz affecting their cultural, social, self-value and worth. …show more content…
Hanna’s cultural and religious connections were weakened as Anyu was responsible for preserving Jewish identity through family customs such as Shabbat. However, Hanna’s mother “was losing her mind. She was going mad. She looked dazed. She fought it, resurfacing from the darkness from time to time to smile at us or ask us about school, but the current was too strong; it kept pulling her under.” Therefore impacting Hanna’s Jewish identity, she gradually lost her cultural, social and self-value. Hanna “couldn’t sing the praises of a God I no longer believed in, or wish Erika a happy New Year when the holiest of religious days came, I didn’t fast and refused to ask God to forgive my sins.” The atmosphere and environment of the concentration camps forced Hanna to remove her previously held identity and charisma she obtained in Birkenau. As her priority of survival and protecting her older sister was more paramount than devoting herself to God, gradually losing her previously held and respected