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.
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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.
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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.
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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.