The Zookeepers Wife

The German forces continued to advance and a German officer assured Antonina that they needed their valuable fur farms and they should prepare to pack their animals and move them to safety. As bombs started landing closer and closer to the zoo, Antonina planned to move her family too. Choosing pets to leave behind tortured Antonina and Rys. They traveled light and Antonina, Rys, Jan's mother, two girls and fox man left for Lowicz on August 23. About a week before they left, Russians intruded the zoo looking for anything worth stealing. Antonina approached them hiding all of her fear and used her best Russian and commanded, "Not allowed! Your mother! Your wife! Your sister! Do you understand"(283)? She placed her hand on one of the men's shoulder and the "manic fury drained from his eyes"(283). Suddenly the man's attitude changed dramatically. He then gave the baby candy and smiled at Antonina offering her a ring from his own finger. Then the man unexpectedly ordered his soldiers out of the house leaving all they had. It seems to me that when Antonina shouted at them about their mothers and wives and sisters, that meant something to one of them, and touched his heart. He might have thought about his mother and sisters and his love for them. I think that by shouting this, Antonina made a connection to the Russians. By slightly touching the officer's shoulder, I believe she comforted him, which he probably doesn't get alot of. He quickly relaxed. I was surprised by the severe change in attitude of the man. He went from getting ready to steal everything in sight, to giving Antonina a ring and leaving everything behind. This shows that that war didn't make everyone evil and proves that there is no such thing as pure evil.

Later that week another officer appeared in the house. Antonina heard the squeak of the kitchen door and hurried downstairs to find a German officer in her living room. He wandered over to the piano and looked through the music. He demanded that she play for him so she started to play a German favorite song. The German officers shouted, "No, not that! Not that! Why are you playing that"(286)?! Antonina pulled her hands away from the keys confused and pulled out a different book. The officer pointed at "The Star- Spangled Banner" she played and he sang along. He then saluted her and left. This confused Antonina, she couldn't understand why he would want the American anthem played and why he was so fluent in music. Later the read the lyrics to the German song she had been playing, "They understand the bosom's yearning, they know the pangs of love, They can touch every tender heart with their silvery tones. Let them move your heart also; beloved, hear me! trembling, I wait for you; come, give me bliss"(286)! This makes more sense because the song is about a broken heart and a broken heart can rattle anyone's emotions. When someones heart is broken, one will never forget it, so when Antonina played this song, I am guessing the German officer was reminded of his broken heart and then demanded a different song. Love has the ability to relate to anyone and can rattle anyone's emotions.