Kindertransport Essay Draft

Felix Feng

IGCSE English Literature

2 October 2017

Kindertransport Essay First Draft

Topic: To what extent does Diane Samuels parallel and connect Helga and Eva’s relationship with Evelyn and Faith’s relationship?

Kindertansport is a play written by Diane Samuels. Generally, this play is mixed by two different time lines which are formed by two generations. As two of the major relationships in this play, Helga and Eva’s relationship and Evelyn and Faith’s relationship (Eva is the younger self of Evelyn) have a lot of parallelism and connections. To a certain extent, Helga and Evelyn are similar mothers while Eva and Faith are similar daughters. Moreover, Samuels has created some scenes in order to make these two relationships have deeper connections.

In both of these relationships, Helga and Evelyn hold the great authority while bearing with sad resignation. The truth of ‘Children always have to learn to be independent of the parent’ is one of the major themes in this book. Although Helga and Evelyn are out of different consideration with this situation, their attitude and actions are mainly parallel. According to Act One Scene One, Helga is extremely firm about sending Eva out. When Eva states that her friend Karla’s parents keep Karla with them but Helga does not, Helga replies with: “Karla says a lot of silly things” and “Of course they would send them away if they had places. Any good parent would do that.” (Act One Scene One Page 8) It is easy to tell that Helga is instilling Eva that she is doing the best for her while also covering her lowliness when facing being apart with her daughter. On the other side, Evelyn’s behavior is parallel to Helga’s. According to Act One Scene One, Faith is quite shake about moving out. She insinuates a lot with Evelyn until she finally express her will: “I don' want to go.” However, Evelyn ignores her and keep polishing the glasses. (Act One Scene One Page 7) By avoiding Faith’s words, Evelyn expresses her disagreement indirectly while also hides her aloneness. Therefore, Helga and Evelyn are actually parallel about dealing with their children’s reluctance.

Perhaps because they are mothers and daughters, both Eva and Faith can actually feel Helga and Evelyn’s reluctance about their leaving. Both Eva and Faith are looking forward to be independent while also caring about their parents’ feeling. According to Act One Scene One, although Faith is generally doubt about her ability of being independent, she also considers Evelyn’s aloneness. “I don't like leaving you on your own” Faith expresses her worry which she wants to find a company for Evelyn indirectly. (Act One Scene One Page 7) On the other hand, Eva (Evelyn) confesses her thoughts of all this time, she accuses Helga of pushing her away: “‘No’ you said. That was all. ‘No. I won’t help you. You have to be able to manage on your own.’ Was it really what you wanted?” (Act Two Scene Two Page 85) For this monologue, Eva questions Helga’s behavior of pushing her away. After this, she abreacts her feeling of willing and wanting to be with her parents directly: “You should have hung on to me and never let me go. Didn’t it ever occur to you that I might have wanted to die with you. Because I did.” For all this time, Eva concerns about her parents but she does not really get a chance. Although Eva and Faith’s characteristics are quite different which leads to different kinds of expression, their attitude and love towards their parents are actually parallel.