http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-dawn/themes.html
Dawn is the beginning of a new day. In this case a new era for the Jews after the holocaust. Check the site above.
Dawn is the beginning of a new day. In this case a new era for the Jews after the holocaust. Check the site above.
First and foremost, "Dawn" is a time of transition from darkness to light, from night to day. In this context, dawn symbolizes hope, new beginnings, and the promise of a better future. It represents the possibility of redemption and the opportunity for meaningful change. In the story, the protagonist Elisha, a Holocaust survivor and member of a Jewish underground group, has to confront his past and make difficult choices. His journey of self-discovery and moral dilemmas takes place during the darkest hours of the night, and as the first light of dawn approaches, his path becomes clearer.
Moreover, the waiting for dawn in the novel goes beyond its literal interpretation as the arrival of morning. For Elisha, waiting for dawn is waiting for a resolution, waiting for the inevitable moment when he will have to carry out an execution. He is assigned to kill John Dawson, a captured English officer, as an act of retaliation against the occupying British forces. The waiting becomes a psychological struggle for Elisha, where he questions his own beliefs, commitments, and the moral implications of his actions. It is during this period of waiting that Elisha and Dawson engage in deep conversations about life, politics, and the nature of violence, highlighting their fundamental differences and shared humanity.
In summary, dawn in the novel "Dawn" represents hope, new beginnings, and the potential for redemption. It serves as a metaphor for the transformative journey the characters go through and the moral choices they face. The waiting for dawn is a crucial element that intensifies their internal struggles, making it a significant symbol within the story.