The Shawl: A Mother's Love in the Holocaust

The Shawl is a powerful story by Cynthia Ozick that follows a mother, Rosa, as she struggles to keep her daughter, Magda, alive during the horrors of the Holocaust. The story is narrated from a third-person omniscient perspective and is set in the grim environment of a Nazi concentration camp. Ozick’s language is rich with metaphor and allusion, adding depth to the characters' harrowing experiences.

The story centers on three characters. Rosa, a Jewish woman imprisoned in a concentration camp, is the mother of Magda. Magda, Rosa’s daughter, is the result of a rape by a Nazi soldier, yet Rosa loves her with unwavering devotion. Magda is only fifteen months old and remains silent most of the time, except when her shawl is taken from her. This shawl is more than just a piece of cloth; it’s a lifeline that only Rosa is allowed to handle, never Stella. Stella, the third character, is Rosa’s niece, who harbors deep jealousy towards Magda and her shawl.

The story opens with a striking and ominous description: "cold, cold, the coldness of hell," which foreshadows the grim events to come. Foreshadowing is a technique frequently employed by the narrator throughout the story. It’s a bitterly cold day as the three characters—Rosa, Magda, and Stella—walk together. Rosa carries Magda, wrapped in the shawl, while Stella walks alongside them. They are all starving, and it’s clear that the baby, frail and thin, is suffering the most. Stella, traumatized and in desperate need of affection, becomes envious of Magda.

As the story progresses, it becomes evident that they are Jewish, as Rosa wears the yellow star, a symbol of degradation, trauma, and isolation. Rosa dreams of handing Magda to a woman in a nearby village, but she fears crossing any boundaries, knowing she would be killed. Despite the dire circumstances, Rosa’s love for Magda remains strong. Eventually, Magda stops crying, resigned to her fate as her needs go unmet, a symbolic act that foreshadows the tragedy to come. Magda suckles on her shawl, remaining silent. Stella, in a moment of bitterness, refers to Magda as ‘Aryan,’ and Rosa, sensing the hostility, fears that Stella might harm Magda.

Rosa realizes that Magda’s survival is precarious, even though she has kept her hidden and quiet under the shawl. She believes the shawl is ‘magical,’ as it has kept Magda alive so far. However, Rosa cannot bear the thought of losing Magda, as caring for her gives Rosa a sense of purpose. She feels unsafe around Stella, further fueling her protective instincts. In such harsh conditions, keeping the baby alive feels like a miracle.

Magda, having never experienced love directly, learns about emotions by observing others. Every day, she hides under the shawl when everyone is lined up, finding safety and comfort within its folds. One day, Stella takes Magda’s shawl, and Magda begins to cry and scream. Rosa hears her, but by the time she retrieves the shawl, it is too late. A guard notices Magda and, in a horrifying moment, throws her into the electric fence. Rosa, helpless, stuffs the shawl into her mouth to stifle her own cries, knowing that if she makes a sound, she will be killed as well. This moment scars Rosa for life.

The shawl is the central symbol in the story. It represents desire, connection, and protection. For Rosa and Magda, it symbolizes the maternal bond, offering comfort and silence to Magda. However, its absence leads to Magda’s tragic death. The shawl also represents safety, a shroud, and a lifeline, enabling Rosa to hide her child and keep her alive.

The story explores several themes. The first is Motherhood. Rosa does everything she can to keep Magda alive for 15 months under horrific conditions, driven by her deep love for her daughter. The second theme is the Holocaust, highlighting the brutal treatment of Jewish people, who were imprisoned in concentration camps that often turned into death camps. The survivors were left with profound mental and physical scars. Yet, despite the dehumanizing circumstances, humanity persists, as seen in the relationship between Rosa and Magda.

Another theme is Resilience. Rosa fights to keep herself and her child alive. Even after Magda’s death, Rosa does not give up; she continues to resist and strives to survive. The final theme is Nature. Although nature is distant from the horrific environment they are in, it is evoked in the story to symbolize the power and dignity of the Jewish people. Magda is described metaphorically, like a "squirrel in a nest, safe," and with eyes like "blue tigers," highlighting her innocence and the fleeting moments of peace she experiences.