I Am David
by Anne Holm
This is my first picture for "I am David"
I chose this image because it shows how David in the book hides from people because he doesn't want to be caught by them.(In the story, David refers to the people who want to capture him and bring him back to the concentration camp as them.) At the beginning of the book, David is very cautious around settlement of people and even animals. He hides from them like in the picture. David eventually learns that some people are not as bad as them.The places where he is cautious are when he is in trouble. He often hides and thinks over what he can do before he executes his plan. The only time he cannot get by them is when he loses his sense of caution but gets away by a diversion.
I think David hides from everything because he does not know much about people. The only thing he knows about people is them and their personalities. As he only knows the personalities of them, he will not know what the personalities of nice people. As they are mean to David, he hides from them and will hide from other people. he trusts no one for the same reason that they were mean to him. When the nicer people gain David's trust,(example, Maria's family, Sophie Bang,other taxi drivers) he is polite and slowly learns that not everyone is like them.
This is my second picture for "I am David"
I chose this picture because it shows how awful the conditions in concentration camps (guy on left who is skin and bones),the depression in the camps(none of the boys look happy), and the fact that the men imprisoning Jewish people showed no mercy on bringing children into concentration camps. The boys in this picture are probably like David. They look like they are around 12 years old(David's age when he was in the concentration camp,)and probably felt the same way as David (that it is awful in the concentration camp, hatred of the guards, wanting to escape from the concentration camp). I think that the boys in that picture could not speak of there hatred because if they did, they would be killed.
David probably looked like the boys in the picture in the concentration camp. He would be thin, sad, and treated like dirt. Some people would have little hope of getting out of the concentration camp alive, let alone being able to forget the entire experience. But David would not think like that. He is very brave and always thinks of himself greatly. he always thinks he will survive even if there is little hope. The only times where he thinks he will die is at the beginning and the end. When he escapes from the concentration camp, he was told that he had only 30 seconds to get away. When gets over the fence at the concentration camp, he thinks that they will see him running away as his 30 seconds were almost up. However, he does manage to get away. At the end, he runs into them and gets away on a diversion. David would always think that he could get out of the concentration camp. He would be brave and confident enough to do that.
The information in a visual is that it is easier to think of what is going on in a story. You can see the story like a movie in your head if there are pictures. In understand stories much better if there are pictures. Especially in novels or long books. I can remember what happens earlier in the story if there are pictures.
Hey Jonah,
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that you wrote how David is always fearful that he could be captured and taken back into the clutches of them. Throughout the story, there are many incidents where David shows fear towards them. On p. 90, David fears that if he entered the house (Maria and family’s), there will be one of them inside. He didn’t know why he felt ‘ill at ease’. You wrote that David thinks over if the outcome of an event will be positive or negative, before he puts a plan into action. I am surprised to see that you have almost the same point of view as me on this topic, as that I have written the same concept on my blog (check out my 1st picture section).
Your statement that whoever David meets, he thinks that they have the same personalities as them, is very true. David believes that whenever he meets strangers, they will capture him and return him to the concentration camp. He thinks that everyone is cruel in this world and he will trust no one, which is exactly what you have said. On pgs. 38-39, it states that David was offered some bread by a baker. Immediately, David thinks it is a trap. He fears that the baker could be one of them. But, David soon realizes that his face portrays not cruelty and hatred, but happiness and kindness. David thinks that he would not hurt him, and that the baker is a good person. Johannes had told David that there are good people in the world who would be willing to lend a helping hand and are kind towards others. You are right that David must gain people’s trust in order for them to be qualified as not one of them. As the story progresses, David does fully learn that there are many nice people on Earth.
This section of your blog is fantastic, and the writing is phenomenal. But, there is one aspect that I disagree with. Please do not assume that I am being picky, but my problem is the picture. It is a great photo and shows David’s features very well. In your 1st sentence, you state that David is shown hiding from them because he doesn’t want to be caught. I can understand why you would see David as hiding (he is crouched, and is pressed flat against some surface), and I would agree. But, while choosing this image, you probably didn’t look at David’s expression. If David was ever in the situation you described, I would portray David as having a look of fear, anxiety, worry, etc. on his face. When I look at the picture you have selected, I see David with a look of sadness, longing for someone or something, and remorse. Those feelings are completely different than what he would have actually been feeling in that event. I would have chosen a different photograph.
Anyways, great writing+blog!!
EnjoiGriff
Jonah,
ReplyDeleteI think that many bloggers could have searched further than movie pictures to capture the essence of David in a photograph. Your reflection on both of the photographs was thorough and analytical. You do understand through reading this novel the devastating impact on David and others caught in these inhumane situations.