“Not only can what others are suffering be a consolation while we are suffering, but even knowing what others suffered long ago can be consoling.”
This quote reflects one of the novel's main ideas: that solace and positive energy can be found in knowing that your pain is not isolated to one person. In George and the other prisoners, this fosters a sense of solidarity and positive feelings because they know that the collective -- not just the individual -- is suffering. For example, George Heisler's knowledge of the struggle many people like him go through during the Nazi regime lessens his sense of isolation. In the end, the quote suggests that there's a form of consolation, despite going through difficult circumstances, in recognizing our capacity as humans to endure and survive, both of which are common in the human condition.
“Death was just as close, but not behind him; it was everywhere. It was inescapable; he felt death’s physical presence—as if death itself were something alive. Like in the old pictures, a creature that can hide behind a bed of asters or behind a baby carriage and can come out and touch you.”
This quote paints a vivid picture of protagonist George Heisler's hypervigilance against the possibility of death, which lurks near him at every corner. For George, death is not merely a potential consequence of escaping the camp and eluding authorities; the possibility of death permeates every aspect of his current existence. He worries constantly about the possibility of dying. In fact, death is often personified in the novel as an animate entity. It is compared to a lurking creature with the capability to heighten George's sense of terror and uncertainty. George's constant proximity to death also underscores his acute sense of vulnerability and the relentless suspense of his perilous journey toward freedom away from Germany.
“Make sure you keep crawling, George. Don’t think you’ve been discovered. Lots of guys were discovered that way, because they were imagining they’d already been discovered and then did something foolish.”
This quote embodies the novel's themes of resilience and caution. The quote encourages the novel's protagonist George to maintain his tenacity and perseverance ("keep crawling") despite the risks involved in his escape from Germany (particularly from the Gestapo and the Commandant himself). It also underscores the danger of paranoia for people in George's situation. Thinking that he has already been discovered could lead George to make impulsive, rash, and potentially dangerous decisions which could uncover him. Thus, the quote suggests that it is important to manage one's fears and maintain a clear-headed, intelligent approach even under extreme stress and the possibility of danger. It stresses the notion that survival in such dire circumstances hinges on physical endurance and psychological resilience.
