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Marzahn
Chapter Summary
The chapter “Marzahn”, as with every other chapter in Train, is divided by character. The chapter starts with Tsura, Wolf, and Seraph on their way to Marzahn to try and rescue Tsura’s mother and aunt. This plan is foiled by the fact that guards surrounded the area. In a quick change of plan, Tsura goes up to the guards and tells them that she is a there to visit a nearby cemetery, which is a ploy to scout out the area. The guards miraculously believe and send her off with a soldier named Wim. As Wim escorts Tsura, we see the human side of those guarding the camp through Wim’s description of his life. With more information on hand, Tsura heads back to Wolf and Seraph. They return to a Berlin in the midst of raids on Jewish homes.
The story transitions to Alex and Marko, who are in hiding after the events of the previous night. Alex needs to go back to his home to retrieve his pictures, so, despite the raids on Jewish homes in full swing, he decides to outrun them back home. After a high stakes race back to Alex’s home, Alex returns with little time to get his picture. Despite getting his picture, we learn he was too slow. Nazi’s are at his door, and after a vain attempt to hide, he is caught. In the middle of this, the story moves on to Ruth, who is woken by Alex’s attempt to hide in her room. Afterward, Nazi forces her out of her room and tear it apart, finding Alex in the process. The rest of her part focuses on her and her mother’s distress on the situation.
In the midst of the raids, the story moves on to Elise, who goes to Ruth’s house to find a distressed Ruth, having just seen her brother arrested. Elise tries to comfort her. Next, the story moves on to Marko, who until Tsura arrives and notes that Kizzy isn’t there, is resting. Kizzy’s being missing leads to both of them thoroughly searching the house unsuccessfully for Kizzy and subsequently going off to Charite Hospital to find her. Finally, the story ends with Kizzy trying to escape, failing, and then subsequently getting sent on a truck with a group of Jews to be taken away.
Chapter Analysis
Throughout the chapter “Marzahn”, we see the ramifications of some of the characters choices. These choices include: Kizzy’s arrest is the result of Marko’s decision to send her off to Frau Duerr. Tsura decision to walk up to the entrance of Marzahn helps her learn to be more rational and plan more, as well as beginning to see the humanity in Everyone. Finally, Alex and Marko’s decision to try and outrun the Nazis back to Alex’s house results in Alex getting arrested.
One of the first major decisions we see in the book is Marko’s decision to send Kizzy off to the Hospital with Frau Duerr all by herself. This decision was crafted out of Marko’s emotions, as he wanted (or maybe needed) to go to Alex’s house and Alex also happened to also be his boyfriend, as shown by the line “Take her to the hospital for me. I’ve got to go.” His desire to go to Alex prevented him from making a rational decision. He knew Kizzy was too young and that Kizzy could not handle a situation. He also clearly had enough time, as shown by Tsura asking him to go, as she also knew of the plans for the night. In Marzahn we see the ramifications of what Marko did, Kizzy is arrested.
Another decision we see in the book is Tsura’s decision to go up to the guards at Marzahn. This decision, unlike the previous one, has a positive effect. Tsura’s decision to go up the guards at Marzahn led her to meet Wim, which (according to the author) represents humanity in one of the most despicable settings. Her meeting with Wim also makes her realize that her decision to just go to Marzahn was irrational and it required more planning, as shown by her willingness to delay the plan to liberate it. The more important part though is how from this point on, we see Tsura’s feelings on the German public’s response to the ongoing raids and deportations. Tsura learns to become more empathetic, see things from every point of view. Her silence at the end is her says it all.
Finally, the last (and arguably most stupid decision) is Alex and Marko’s (What’s with Marko) decision to go back to Alex’s house by outrunning the Nazis who are raiding Jewish homes. The solution they used to solve their predicament had only one upside to it. They would get to Tsura on time. The biggest problem with this decision was that it relied almost entirely on luck, and they didn’t even get there at the most optimal time. Their plan was to outrun the Nazis back to Alex’s house. This plan had a high chance of capture because he would run in there right before the Nazis would search the house, which meant if he didn’t time it correctly, he would most likely get arrested (which is exactly what happened). The better plan would’ve been to wait until after the Nazis pass the house, as the Nazis wouldn’t have returned, giving them more time to get the pictures and escape. This entire plan was meant to fail, and it did spectacularly.
Choices are a big part of any story. Choices really tell you what a character is all about. Choices are an important part of any analysis, as they provide great insight into the story and book as a whole. Here the author clearly outlines this importance by showing three choices with major ramifications.