Memory, Identity, and Resistance: Jurek Becker's Narratives as social Commentary on Holocaust Trauma

Maddalena Guglielmi
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Maddalena Guglielmi: Indipendent Scholar, Rue Émilie Claus, 61. 1180, Belgium.

Journal of Scientific Reports, 2024, vol. 7, issue 1, 301-317

Abstract: This article examines the life and work of Jurek Becker, focusing on his unique perspective as a Holocaust survivor and his contributions to post-war German literature. Although Becker’s literary legacy remains largely within German borders, his novels - particularly Jakob the Liar - offer profound insights into the Holocaust and Jewish identity in the context of both Germanies. Born into a Jewish family and surviving the horrors of the Lodz ghetto and concentration camps, Becker’s writing reflects his ambivalence towards Jewish identity and his complex relationship with German society. This article explores Becker’s thematic focus on memory, loss, and the search for identity, revealing how his experiences shaped narratives that address universal themes of human resilience and suffering. By analyzing Becker’s novels, essays, and personal reflections, the article underscores his role in grappling with Germany's Nazi past and confronting themes of memory and belonging that resonate well beyond the GDR’s ideological confines.

Keywords: Jurek Becker; Holocaust; Jewish Identity; Memory and Loss; German Literature (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aif:report:v:7:y:2024:i:1:p:301-317

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