The Zookeeper's Wife Essay

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The Zookeeper’s Wife tells the story of Jan and Antonina, who owned a zoo during WWII. During this time the couple saved Jews from being persecuted by the Nazis. They hid Jews in the rubble of cages and empty buildings, which were left after the many bombings in Warsaw. Although they had many close calls with Nazis they miraculously kept the ordeal a secret with the help of a few friends. Antonina, which the story revolves around, had a strange and mysterious gift which helped her understand animals feelings, this power in the end seemed to work on humans to and helped her out of many situations. The first few chapters of the book show how life was before the war, peaceful and almost dreamlike in the way that they lived among the animals. …show more content…

In the few times Jan is around all he ever does is criticize Antonina, making her feel useless. Although things start to look up again when when he does something he’s never done before, compliment her in public. Anthonina shows her resolve when it comes to sweet talking Nazi soldiers and turning them away. Working with Żegota the zookeepers acquire fake identities for the refugees to smuggle them to safety. In 1943 Ryś is hospitalized with pneumonia, and as if this didn’t add enough stress the director for Parks and Gardens orders Jan to be fired. But the Polish Vice-President doesn’t agree with this and transfers Jan to the Pedagogic Museum, so that he won’t lose his house and income. Shortly after Antonina gives birth to her daughter Teresa. The time for a Polish uprising is now and Jan leaves to fight. Antonina is on edge but somehow defends the zoo. During the uprising Antonina, Ryś, and Teresa are forced to live in an abandoned schoolhouse for a while. Anthonina worries about whether Jan is alive or not, and despite being shot in the neck he survives. Finally when the Germans flee Poland in 1945, everyone returns to the zoo and the refugees can be set free. After the war everything returns to the way it was before, almost, and the zookeepers live in

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