Clements 1

Lauren Clements
Mr. Smith
English Period 5
1 March, 2016
Fear is Limitless
Fear today is commonly portrayed as entertainment. People will put themselves in
situations that mimic being in fear. Fear overcomes the body and is put into a survival mode.
This makes the body want to fight back against fear. Fear is not a pleasant experience. To be put
in fear and to be tortured by another person is inhumane. How does living in fear affect a
person's life?
During the Holocaust, the Nazis put fear into peoples minds. They put people in
situations of complete fear. Sources such as Night by Elie Wiesel, Maus by Art Spiegeleisen, and
Anne Frank, reveal that when a person is fearful they try to fight back while still gripping onto
their faith. Those who do not fight back, let fear engulf them to the point of silence. This is
portrayed in all three sources. They are connected through fear but also their faith. During the
Holocaust, faith is commonly talked about in these books and in the movie Anne Frank, they
portray the celebration of Hanukkah. Faith is stable and God is everlasting. Faith is something
victims of the Holocaust held onto because faith was one of the only things that could not be
taken from them and it could help them overcome their fear.
For two years Anne Frank lived in fear. Most of her days were spent in silence because of
the fear of being caught by someone hearing them. They were forbidden to look out the windows
or go outside. Living in the attic of a warehouse, during the day, the eight Jews could not wear
shoes, talk, sneeze, flush in the lavatory and/or could not do anything that would make enough

Clements 2

noise for someone to hear. During the movie, there are several scenes where someone like Anne
would be quoted about faith. I know it's terrible trying to have any faith when people are doing
such horrible things... But you know what I sometimes think? I think the world may be going
through a phase, Anne goes on to enlighten and reassure herself through her writing ...It'll
pass...I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are really good at heart. Having thoughts
and a mindset like Anne Frank was uncommon and rare during this point in time. Anne was only
only thirteen when she went into hiding. At this age you are shield from the reality of the world.
During a night in the movie, bombs go off, sending the annex radiling. This sends Anne into a
state of fear and reality. She realizes that the world is not safe. Many people were given every
reason to give up and let fear and the unknown overcome them. Faith, I believe, set Anne into a
strong mindset.
In Maus, we see Elie and his dad overcome extreme fear. Their lives were chosen in two
different words, Left or Right. In some instances these words could determine the fate of
your family. Elie Wiesel was separated from his mother and sister on arrival in Auschwitz. I
didnt know that this was the moment in time and the place where I was leaving my mother and
Tzipora forever, Elie stated as he went left and his Mother and sister, Tzipora, went right (29).
After losing his family in Auschwitz, Elie, began to question his faith. He reflected on the first of
being at the camp, Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God and my soul and
turned my dreams into ashes. Never shall I forget those things, even were I condemned to live as
long as God himself(34). In this quote, he shares his anger and his questioning of God
repeatedly. Trying to forget that God would let such acts of cruelty happen, he fails, and since
day one at Auschwitz his belief in God subsides. There is no excuse on why God allowed this
awful event to happen. In consequence, many people, unfortunately, stopped believing in God.

Clements 3

Maus by Art Spiegelman tells the story of Art Spiegelman's father, Vladek. After being
drafted for war against the Germans, he is captured. His experience in the war was filled with
fear. At one point he was threatened to be hung, we should hang you right here on this spot,
after fatally shooting a German soldier (51). After being ordered to bring the body back to camp
he reflects the murderous events that took place. Killing someone is an event that is full of fear
and not many can to do this act of harm but Vladek said to himself, Well, at least I did
something(50). Vladek has every right not to feel guilty about killing someone with the
intentions of wiping out a human race. One of the ten commandments is You shall not murder.
However, this is an act of self defense. God defines murder as any thought or feeling of hatred
against another person. Fear is all that encaptures Vladek in a situation such as this one. He killed
one of his murderers.
Vladeks time in the Holocaust is filled with luck and faith. Though, he at some point
stops and questions God in the most horrible situations. He lived in the hell of a world as a jew.
After escaping the german war camp he is reunited with his family in the Ghetto. However,
nothing is pleasant about it. There were hangings of Jews of all ages every week leaving Vladek
and his family frightened, I was frightened to go outside for a few days...I didnt want to pass
where they were hanging (84). Vladek was a rich man who used his money in many ways to
stay alive. Faith was something he rarely relied on. Although God protected him and present
during his times of fear.
The Holocaust is an event in time that was built on fear. Those who were strong enough
to fight against hell, held on to the little faith that they could find. Anne Frank, Vladek
Spiegelman, and Elie Wiesel all had two things in common, fear and faith. They went through

Clements 4

the unimaginable with nothing but faith. Though they all questioned God at one point for the
torture they tried there best to believe in him and stay alive.