Truth can mean a lot of different things (at least that's what we told our mom when she asked where the plate of cookies went). There's "the truth," as in the opposite of a lie, and then there's "Truth" (yes, with a capital T), like the ultimate truth in the universe. In Postcards from No Man's Land, Jacob finds truth in art and literature, but then he can't handle it when he comes across it in real life. His final decision—whether to share Geertrui's memoir with his grandma Sarah—is a tough one for him, because he's not sure she can take it.
In this book, the truth is something to be admired and sought after, but it's also a tough pill to swallow.
Questions About Truth
- Geertrui claims it's always better to know the truth—even when it hurts. Do you agree? Should she have confessed her affair to Tessel, Daan, and Jacob?
- In what ways is the truth harmful? Do you think Sarah would want to know about Geertrui and her husband? Why or why not?
- Is it strange to find truth in fiction? Both Daan and Jacob love art because of its honesty, yet by definition, they are talking about pieces that were specifically created by someone for a purpose. Do you think that's honest, or something else?
Chew on This
In the end, Jacob learns that the truth might hurt, but it's worth knowing because it can help us understand who we are and where we came from, which will ultimately be helpful.
Jacob might think he's after truth in The Diary of Anne Frank or Rembrandt, but he'd rather live in a world where things are exactly what they seem, not what they are.