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Analysis Of Corrie Ten Boom's 'The Hiding Place'

Decent Essays

Corrie Ten Boom’s book, The Hiding Place, is an inspirational story that explores the issues of needing and wanting freedom, and maintaining strength throughout life’s difficulties. This book illustrates how important freedom is, and how, without it many people are lost or lack hope. Freedom coveys the feeling of strength and worth. Corrie explains this throughout her book.
The Hiding Place is the emotional and inspirational true life story of an ideal Christian woman who sacrifices her life to help others. Corrie has grown up in a very religious home, and when embroiled in a difficult and dangerous situation her family risks everything to help others. The book is based in the 1940’s, when Corrie’s home town is invaded by German officers who collect any Jewish civilians and escort them to Concentration Camps. Fear consumed the town, and the Ten Boom family reacts by helping the town’s Jewish families. Quickly, the news of this kind-hearted family spreads and more Jews come seeking help. Eventually the Ten Boom family is caught and sent to the Concentration camps themselves. While imprisoned in solitary confinement Corrie, has to learn to be strong and faithful to God. She dreams and wishes for freedom for not only herself but for the other innocent prisoners surrounding her. Corrie has to be strong for herself and for God. She stays devoted to her beliefs, and even through the hurt and anxiety, she never blames God, she believes it is all part of His plan and that everything happens for a reason.

The Hiding Place’s dual theme of freedom and faith are also portrayed in other books, such as, All Quite on The Western Front. Paul Bäumer, the main character, is a young man who enlists in the army to fight for his country. When Paul joins the army, he covets the freedom of others. Once he returns home and is free, his memories of battle taunt him. He wishes to return to the war because he is used to being a killing machine and hearing the sound of guns go off at night. His newly-recovered freedom is unwanted. War has so altered Paul that he no longer is able to have thoughts and emotions of his own. Throughout the book, the author continuously brings up the bird as a symbol of hope and freedom. Paul

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