Stevenson, Kara

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ESSAIVolume 6 Article 474-1-2008What Makes Them Tick?: The Ravages of WarKara StevensonCollege of DuPageFollow this and additional works at: http://dc.cod.edu/essaiThis Selection is brought to you for free and open access by the College Publications at DigitalCommons@C.O.D.. It has been accepted for inclusion inESSAI by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@C.O.D.. For more information, please contact koteles@cod.edu.Recommended CitationStevenson, Kara (2008) "What Makes Them Tick?: The Ravages of War," ESSAI: Vol. 6, Article 47.Available at: http://dc.cod.edu/essai/vol6/iss1/47145What Makes Them Tick?: The Ravages of Warby Kara Stevenson(English 1101)obert E. Lee once said, “What a cruel thing is war: to separate and destroy families andfriends, and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill ourhearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair face of thisbeautiful world” (“Quotations”). Hilary Isaacs' short story "Not Even 'Girl'" uses the character of Lt.Alfred Hoffman to prove that war leaves no soldier unwounded. Set in a concentration camp in NaziGermany during World War II, Isaacs’s piece focuses on Lt. Alfred Hoffman and his brutalization ofa Jewish prisoner named Batia. Lt. Hoffman, once a romantic and a genuinely kind man, has becomea tyrannical beast, hiding under the cloak of rank, and blinding himself with denial in order to livewith the atrocities he has committed.The beginning of the piece proves Lt. Hoffman was once a compassionate man. Thus, we seehim standing in the doorway of the crematorium staring at the woman we will come to know asBatia. As he stands there he thinks to himself, “In another day, another time, [I] might have met herin a café. She would have been reading a book, some poetry… [I] would have walked up to her andasked if [I] might sit with her. Later [I] would kiss her as [I] walked with her in the evening. Somelittle gifts. Then who knows” (Isaacs 76-77). Through Lt. Hoffman’s fantasizing it is discovered thathe not only has a passionate side, but truly cares for Batia. However, this is not a time when peacetriumphs over war. Lt. Hoffman must strike these thoughts from his mind or find a way to convincehimself that what he is doing is not immoral and against regulations. Lt. Hoffman chooses to do thelatter. Thus Isaacs writes, “He would enjoy Batia while he could, how and when he wanted. Hissuperiors would not care. They would be glad he was making good use of all his resources…Hitlerwanted to make sure the men were being taken care of…So it is nothing that he had Batia. Until hedecided he was done with her. That was how it had to be” (78). By hiding under his rank andattempting to justify his feelings for Batia and actions towards her, Lt. Hoffman proves that the warhas altered his way of thinking. As this is not another time, Lt. Hoffman must persuade himself thathe is not a traitor for having feelings towards one of the “repulsive” Jews.Again, the romantic side of Hoffman is shown when he calls out for Batia while she works:“‘Batia’, she heard him clearly now, how soft his voice was and how near. For a moment the softnessof his tone startled her, made her feel off guard” (82). By calling Batia’s name in a gentle voice, Lt.Hoffman is reminiscent of a man calling to his lover. As Lt. Hoffman gives Batia the ring he broughther, his true self is exposed again, “‘I want you to have this’, he said, ‘beautiful Batia. For you.’ Heraised his eyebrows, hopefully, unintentionally. Like a boy” (85). In his innocence Hoffman revealsthe side of him that is untarnished by false ideals, and hatred. Conversely, when Batia refuses his gifthe becomes enraged, “‘You little Jewish bitch,’ his voice barely louder than a whisper but tight andcold as a knife edge. ‘You will say no to my present? My gift, to you’ Lt. Hoffman was white in theface and his lips had become thin and pale. ‘You will not,’ he followed her to the ground, kneeledover her, hit her again and again across her face, ‘You will not say no to me’” (86). Rejected by theintolerable Jew he cares so much about Lt. Hoffman turns on Batia, becoming the militant he wastaught to be, angry, cold, and violent.Then, Lt. Hoffman drags Batia into a small room and proceeds to rip off her clothes until sheis completely naked. He forces her to turn in a circle and while she is turning Hoffman begins to feelguilty for what he has done to her, “His head started to pound and he could hear along with the trucksR1Stevenson: What Makes Them Tick?Produced by The Berkeley Electronic Press, 2008146outside the pounding of his own blood in his temples like someone was beating him from the insideout. He grabbed Batia. ‘Stop’ (88).  It is through his guilt that Lt. Hoffman’s true nature is againrevealed; repulsed by his own actions, he begins to feel physically ill. Nonetheless, his militarytraining takes over; and he knows he must teach Batia, a Jew, that he is God in his camp. He rapesher while she fights for her dignity. “‘Hold still, bitch.’ He would not call her woman, not even girl,ever again. He certainly would not call her by her name anymore now… ‘You will not say no to menow. Will you? Not anymore.’ Then he said, ‘Tell me your number.’ Batia closed her eyes. ‘Openyour eyes and look at me and tell me your number’” (88). So humiliated at being rejected by the Jewhe cares for, Lt. Hoffman disgraces her in the most cruel way he knows how. Every human being, inevery walk of life has a name. Jewish prisoners were stripped of their names, and it is in this loss,they were stripped of their last shred of humanity. By asking Batia for her number, Lt. Hoffman isrefusing to acknowledge her as human anymore.War has the power to turn brother against brother, and the power to turn man against himself.In this power we see the never ending struggle to choose between the side of yourself that is kind andhonest and side of yourself that has been taught hatred and violence. The cruel monster that Lt.Hoffman becomes is evidence that war not only devastates the body, but the mind, heart and soul.Works CitedIsaacs, Hillary. "Not Even Girl." The Thing About Hope Is... Ed. David M. McGrath. Et al. Boston:Pearson Custom Publishing, 2003. 75-88.“Quotations about War”. 3 Nov. 2007 <http://www.quotegarden.com/war.html>.2ESSAI, Vol. 6 [2008], Art. 47http://dc.cod.edu/essai/vol6/iss1/47

What Makes Them Tick?: The Ravages of War

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