How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
'We were all going to be born anew,' she said to him brokenly. (37.88)
Resi says this to Kraft. Apparently, even though she's a spy, too, she believed that all three of them (Campbell, Kraft, and Resi) were going to escape and live in paradise. The words she uses, of course, are pretty spiritual. It's like she's invoking a baptism—but instead of a new life in God, she's thinking of a tropical vacay.
Quote #8
Both moments at those splintered stairheads under the open sky were exquisite.
The exquisiteness went on for only a short time, naturally, for, like any human family, we loved our nests and needed them. But, for a minute or two, anyway, Helga and I felt like Noah and his wife on Mount Ararat.
There is no better feeling than that. And then the air-raid sirens blew again, and we realized that we were ordinary people, without dove or covenant, and that the flood, far from being over, had scarcely begun. (42.6-9)
Talk about religious imagery—Campbell and Helga have advanced from their nation of two to being Noah and his wife. Repopulating the planet, part deux. Downside: they're not really Noah and his wife, so they have no promise from God that everything will be okay. In the end, they decide to walk away, because bombs.
Quote #9
That one-eyed teacher set her down on the bench, propped her against the wall. And then he went to the highest-ranking person present, a vice-admiral, as it happened. 'She's a woman...hysterical...they get hysterical...she doesn't mean it...she has the Golden Order of Parenthood...' he said to the vice-admiral.
The vice-admiral wasn't baffled or annoyed. He didn't feel miscast. With fine dignity, he gave the man absolution. It's all right,' he said. 'It's understandable. Don't worry.'
The teacher marveled at a system that could forgive weakness. 'Heil Hitler,' he said, bowing as he backed away.
'Heil Hitler,' said the vice-admiral. The teacher now began to revive his wife. He had good news for her—that she was forgiven, that everyone understood. (42.22-26)
Hoooo, okay this is heavy-duty stuff right here. This goes way beyond just saying you love God and country; this is giving priestly powers to Nazis.
Okay, let's pick this moment apart.
First off we've got a tired German family. Right before this moment, the wife prays to God, acknowledging what must be his anger, considering all these explosions (which must be a sign of his wrath). She's asking him to stop. Yeah, well, her husband whacks her upside the head to get her to stop. Not cool, bro.
Then we realize that this dude is actually terrified of the S.S. men. Turns out the S.S. dudes don't care, and what follows is an over-the-top spiritual encounter derisively recalled by Campbell.
It's insane and kind of gross that the S.S. men are felt to offer not only absolution (forgiveness), but also a benediction (blessing) for the woman's "sins." The "Heil Hitler" response takes the place of "Amen," and religiosity turns out to be a really scary parallel to Nazism.