Remembering The Past In The Devil's Arithmetic

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Generally, if you experience a tragic event it will make an impact on your life. Everyone in the world is unique from the events in their life that they take on. It is meaningful to remember those events because the challenges in the past are what make you the person you are today. The main character, Hannah, changes her values over the course of the novel after undergoing an evil event. In the Devil’s Arithmetic, the author develops the theme of remembering the past may be challenging, but it is an important part of our history that one should never forget.
In order to see how Hannah’s development effects the theme, it is necessary to understand what caused her mind to change. Hannah Stern is a twelve year old, Jewish girl who lives with her family in New Rochelle, New York. She is disinterested, embarrassed, and strives to distance herself from her family and her heritage. Hannah’s family is going to her Grandparents house in Bronx to celebrate Passover with a traditional Seder dinner. Not quite understanding the importance of this family gathering, Hannah whines and complains to her parents that she doesn’t want to go. Several members of her family suffered at the hands of the Nazis during World War II and it still has made large impact on their lives, especially her grandpa's. Hannah hates recalling the traumas of …show more content…

At first, Hannah was a pesty, teenage girl who didn’t care about her family or religion. After undergoing a harsh journey, Hannah soon began to change her attitude. She now understands her family and her heritage better. As Hannah’s mind shifts, the theme is developed. Hannah understands how the events in a person’s life can impact the person they are today. In addition, she learned that it is important to remember our history. Those who do not remember the past are destined to repeat

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