It was Sunday, August 13, 1961, a day I would remember for the rest of my life. When a prison had been built around us as we slept.

Lines of Grenzers—our nickname for the border police, the Grenztruppen—stood guard along a fence of thorny wire, in some places higher than their heads, and for as far as my eyes could see. They stood like iron statues with stern expressions and long rifles in their hands. It was obvious that anyone who tried to cross would get far worse than a rip in their clothes. Because Grenzers didn't face the westerners on the other side of the fence. They watched us.
From Jennifer A. Nielsen, A Night Divided. Copyright 2015 by Jennifer A. Nielsen
The previous text suggested that the Berlin Wall was built to prevent people from fleeing East Germany.
How does this historical novel build on or challenge that idea?

it suggest east German citizens had expected a wall to be built.
it demonstarates how the wall made east German citizens feel safe.
it illustrates how east German citizens felt trapped by the wall.

1 answer

The excerpt from Jennifer A. Nielsen's "A Night Divided" clearly illustrates how East German citizens felt trapped by the wall. The vivid imagery evokes a sense of oppression and confinement, as the Grenzers—who are meant to protect the boundaries—paradoxically serve to imprison the very people they watch over.

  1. Trapped by the Wall: The description of the Grenzers standing guard along a "fence of thorny wire" communicates a feeling of entrapment and fear among the East German citizens. The military presence is a powerful symbol of the state's authority and control, suggesting that rather than providing safety, the wall creates a sense of suffocating confinement.

  2. Fear and Surveillance: The text hints at the constant surveillance and the consequences of attempting to cross the fence, emphasizing that the Grenzers were not there to defend East Germany from outside threats, but rather to prevent its citizens from escaping. This further underlines the oppressive atmosphere and the feeling of being trapped within their own country.

  3. Lack of Freedom: The metaphorical language of a "prison built around us" captures the emotional impact of such a barrier, highlighting how the wall served to restrict freedom and limit life choices for those living in East Germany. Rather than a protective measure, the wall signifies limitation and despair.

By focusing on the feelings of the East German citizens rather than the state's justification for the wall, the narrative challenges the idea that the Berlin Wall was built solely for their protection or for any positive reason, instead depicting it as a tool of repression.