Tattooist Of Auschwitz By Cather Morris Sparknotes

The mass genocide of the Jewish population during the holocaust broke down an entire generation of people who shared the same faith, but love still prevailed. In the novel by Heather Morris, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Lale, and Gita face and overcome many obstacles that hinder their chances of surviving the concentration camps. This true story focuses on Lale and Gita who are both Slovakian Jews who were transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau around the same time. Lale is put to work as the Tätowierer (German for tattooist) and had to permanently mark his fellow prisoners. Lale used his privileged position as the tattooer and risked his life to exchange jewels and money for food to help keep his fellow prisoners alive.

Gita was doubtful of any chance of a future because you could die at any moment. For the past couple of weeks, Lale has been busy tattooing prisoners arriving at Auschwitz and asked Baretski, the nazi officer assigned to Lale, to write a note to Gita stating that he is okay and busy at Auschwitz. When Lale returns to Birkenau he immediately rushes to the Administration building, where Gita works, and waits for her to get out. Once she gets out, he runs up to her and grabs her by the arm to go speak somewhere else. Gita assumed that Lale had died as Baretski never passed the note to her. Lale kisses her and proclaims that he loves her, but she is quick to question his love because she states that she is ugly since she has no hair. “ I love your hair the way it is now, and I will love it the way it will be in the future.” “But we have no future.” Lale holds her firmly around her waist, forces her to meet his gaze. “Yes, we do. There will be a tomorrow for us. On the night I arrived here, I made a vow to myself that I would survive this hell. We will survive and make a life where we are free to kiss when we want to, make love when we want to.” This conversation shows how Lale is hopeful of his dream of surviving with Gita and making a life where they have the choice to do what they want together. He assures her and makes sure that Gita believes that no matter what they will overcome this

Since Lale would exchange jewels and money for food for other prisoners, he was always at risk of getting caught, and one day he did. The SS takes him and he is tortured until Jakub, a prisoner whom Lale gave food to when he was dying, manages to spare his life and returns the kindness that Lale showed him. Lale is taken to block 31 and Baretski comes to see him. Lale asks him if he can get a message to Gita to tell her where he’s at and to get Cilka, she works with Gita in the administration building. Cilka has connections with Schwarzhuber, a high-ranking officer at Birkenau because she is regularly raped by him. She helps Lale avoid death in block 31 and return to being a tattooist by asking Schwarzhuber if he can be transferred out. Lale goes to the administration building to see Gita but she does not recognize him at first glance. She throws her hands around him but does not cry. They walk off heading towards the women’s camp and lean toward each other. “I don't know how much longer I can stand this.” “It can't last forever, my darling. Just hang in there, please hang in there. We'll have the rest of our lives together.” “But-” “No buts. I promised you I'd leave this place and make a life together.” “How can we? We can't even know what tomorrow will bring. Look at what just happened to you.” This quote shows the unfortunate reality that not only Lale and Gita faced but what all people at the camps