Theme Of Faith In Floating In My Mother's Palm

Faith Woven Through History Throughout history, there exists measures of hope; although these measure of hope may differ widely from person to person, the reasons and goals are universally applied and accepted, we all need something to envision and to lust for in hopes for a better future. Often times throughout history, people have used religion, family, and love as measures of hope, something to have faith in in a world that may seem lost of hope and life. During the historical period known as World War II, a mass genocide, known as the Holocaust and led by the Nazis, toke place in Germany in which many of those deemed as less than fortunate, particularly the Jews, were put into concentration camps, many of which were exterminated. During

Throughout her novel, Floating in My Mother 's Palm, Ursula Hegi creates and authenticates her viewpoints on the effects of World War II through usage of her character depictions. Through her character depictions, Hegi illustrates perfectly and entirely the reliance of elements of faith during devastation and how that faith, if strong enough, may elicit a unifying hope that will eventually transcend the boundaries of the perceived reality (much like how World War II came to an end). Throughout the entity of the novel, Hegi embodies the prevalence of faith as due to the devastation brought on by the war, resulting in a complete reliance as an effect. One scene that captures exactly the essence of the power of faith relates to Renate and Hanna. During this scene, Hanna causing psychological damage to Renate, resulting in what seems to be the end of their close bond. However, through the reliance of faith, Hanna is able to "cure" Renate of her cursed, physical disability, allowing them to stay close. After this faithful incident, Hanna captures, in essence, the power that faith has to unify, protect, and transcend a perceived truth stating that "some acts of faith, I believe, have the power to grant us something infinitely wiser than what we imagine" (Hegi, 58). It is with Hanna 's and

During the film, Schindler 's List, the portrayal of these acts of faith may be analyzed through the entire depiction of the life during this historic period. Throughout the film, the cruel treatment and display of the race of people deemed as less than worthy (Jews, homosexuals, disabled, etc.) alludes to a sense of false hope and dignity among such race. However, despite such devastating and cruel actions, the faith and moral fibers are strong, creating a race of people that is terrified, devastated, and emotionally damaged, while still holding true to its inner core of faithful people. During one scene in particular, the Jews that were saved due to Oskar Schindler 's efforts to purchase them and set them free have produced a symbol of their faithfulness and gratitude for his efforts. The symbol was a gold ring that had the phrase “whoever saves one life saves the world entire" (Spielberg) engraved upon it. The phrase supports the overall theme that a society of people may move forward when measures of hope are taken into the hands of faithful people, allowing even one man to save humanity from perceived turmoil. This ring acts as a token of the Jews ' appreciation for his demonstration to