Cynthia Ozick's-"The Shawl"

Could you ever imagine having a child and keeping them a secret beacause if anyone found out there could be severe consequences? What about having a child and trying to take care of them under the worst circumstances while trying to remian strong enough for the both of you? That is exactly the struggle that Rosa had in Cynthia Ozick's, "The Shawl." Rosa had a daughter named Magda who was only 15 months old when they were placed in the German concentration camp. Sh ehad to keep Magda a secret from the guards due to the fact she had no idea what would happen if they discvered her. They were barely given any food to eat, and the small amount that she had was given to Magda. She did everything in her power to make sure that at least her daughter's needs were met. There soon came a time when she was unable to produce breast milk and feed her because she was so weak from hunger. She then has no choice but to let her suck on the very shawl that was hiding her for some sort of nourishment. By sucking on the shawl, Magda also remains quiet and calm. It has now been dubbed as a magical shawl. One day Rosa's other daughter, Stella, could no longer stand the cold and took the shawl that was covering Magda. As Rosa sees that she may be discovered she runs to retrieve it as fast as she can to protect her baby. Unfortunately, she is to late and one of the soldiers took Magda away. She cried out for her mother, but there was nothing Rosa could do. She was forced to stand there and watch as the guard tossed her poor, innocent daughter into an electrified fence. In order to keep her composure she just placed the shawl in her mouth and began to suck on it. It was as though she wanted to recieve the same comfort that it provided for Magda. This story shows what great lengths parents, especially mothers, will go to for their children. No matter how much she suffered or how hungry she was, she kept going for her baby. The relationship between mother and child is one that can never be broken. It can withstand any hardship. It was clear that she thought the end was near, but she was not about to let that stop here from saving her daughter's life for one more day.