Baseball Saved Us Analysis
It’s the 1940’s; 1944 to be exact. You’ve been drifting in and out of a variety of camps, struggling to stay as alive and hopeful as possible. The days and nights are starting to blend together into a gray smudge, and your will to live is beginning to dissipate. This was the constant struggle of the Jewish people during the second World War. Every waking moment was spent in constant fear and misery, Now, does that compare to being taken from your home and having to pursue your own entertainment? Two children, Elie and Shorty, survived these trials and lived to tell the tale. In “Night”, by Elie Wiesel, and “Baseball Saved Us”, by Ken Mochizuki, both of the main characters experienced things that changed the way they viewed a variety of subjects.
Some of the issues explored in their works are racism, survival, and internal struggle.
One of the most notable struggles of Shorty and Elie was racism. In Elie’s story, he was placed in the concentration camp because he was Jewish. In these camps, he was treated like something subhuman, like a dog or a rat. Meanwhile, Shorty was forced into the detention camp due to his Japanese heritage. Even after he was released, he still faced prejudice, being called a “Jap” during one of his baseball games.
Another important part of both stories is survival. While Shorty was trying to find something to do, Elie was just trying to make it through the day alive. Elie was only feed rations, usually of soup and bread, and Shorty got relatively small meals, even if they weren't that great. Shorty also was only required to stay in his camp, while Elie was subject to intense labor.
Aside from these two troubles, Elie and Shorty had to deal with all of the emotional and mental stress of the situation. Both were taken from their homes and forced into cramped, uncomfortable camps. They were degraded and had their humanity trampled upon. In Elie's case, he had to watch the ones he loved, along with his people, get slaughtered like cattle in a slaughterhouse.
During World War II, both Elie and Shorty were segregated into camps because of their race. Although the reasons were different, both of them were changed as a result. Even though Elie obviously had a rougher time, Shorty didn't leave his camp unscathed.
Some of the issues explored in their works are racism, survival, and internal struggle.
One of the most notable struggles of Shorty and Elie was racism. In Elie’s story, he was placed in the concentration camp because he was Jewish. In these camps, he was treated like something subhuman, like a dog or a rat. Meanwhile, Shorty was forced into the detention camp due to his Japanese heritage. Even after he was released, he still faced prejudice, being called a “Jap” during one of his baseball games.
Another important part of both stories is survival. While Shorty was trying to find something to do, Elie was just trying to make it through the day alive. Elie was only feed rations, usually of soup and bread, and Shorty got relatively small meals, even if they weren't that great. Shorty also was only required to stay in his camp, while Elie was subject to intense labor.
Aside from these two troubles, Elie and Shorty had to deal with all of the emotional and mental stress of the situation. Both were taken from their homes and forced into cramped, uncomfortable camps. They were degraded and had their humanity trampled upon. In Elie's case, he had to watch the ones he loved, along with his people, get slaughtered like cattle in a slaughterhouse.
During World War II, both Elie and Shorty were segregated into camps because of their race. Although the reasons were different, both of them were changed as a result. Even though Elie obviously had a rougher time, Shorty didn't leave his camp unscathed.