Kindertransport - Role of the Ratcatcher

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The Role of the Ratcatcher The character of the Ratcatcher plays an important role in the play “Kindertransport” by Diane Samuels. He is not just an antagonist but he plays a vital part in the plays context. The Ratcatcher also plays: the Nazi border guard, the English organiser, the post man and the station guard. Here we notice that these are the only male characters in the play. This could signify that Germany is a patriarchal society and that men are dominant over what happens in the country. The very first thing to be mentioned of the Ratcatcher is his music “Ratcatcher music”, which portrays a sinister overshadow that is to be shown through different characters and actions through the play. At the time the music is playing, Helga is telling Eva that she needs to “sew your buttons on now” Eva is constantly distracted by other things such as her book ‘Der Rattenfӓnger’. She asks her “Mutti” what different words mean to try and get away from having to sew her buttons on her coat that is “too big”. Eventually her “Mutti” tells Eva to sew the buttons and Eva questions why. Helga replies to Eva “you have to be able to manage on your own” She says this as she knows that her and Eva may never be reunited, therefore meaning she will have to learn to become independent in order to survive without Helga. Helga has offered to read Eva one last bedtime story before she leaves in the morning for England. She allows Eva to choose what book she wants, she chooses “Der Rattenfӓnger”. However Helga declines this request because she acknowledges the closeness between the story that Eva is to be played in her life and the story of the Ratcatcher. Eva does not understand or is incapable to realize the situation she is in and how this will all change her life. When Helga says “we are forgotten. We are lost. We are destroyed’ cried out all the uncounted blessings” this could be
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