In 1993 the play "Kindertransport" by Diane Samuels was performed for the first time by the Soho Theatre Company. Ever since, the play has been performed in various productions all over the world and still celebrates massive success. The piece focuses on the story of a little Jewish girl named Eva, who has to leave her family and home in Germany to travel to a foster family in England. The play depicts Eva’s experiences with the Kindertransport and shows her new life in England as a young girl and later on as an older woman who has a grown-up daughter. Next to Eva, her mother her foster mother and her daughter, there is one other noteworthy character, the Ratcatcher. This mythic character is an omnipresent figure that accompanies Eva through the whole play.
This research paper will examine the significance and functions that the character the Ratcatcher in the play Kindertransport obtains. All of the following research will be used to confirm or negate the subsequent thesis: The Ratcatcher is an essential character in the play Kindertransport. In order to do so, an emphasis will be put on the origin of this character, namely the Pied Piper, and the differences between these two individuals will be highlighted. Furthermore, the play will be closely analysed and the most important themes in reference to the Ratcatcher and his story will be explored.
The final part of this research paper will then summarise all of the findings, it will explain how Diane Samuels uses the character of the Ratcatcher in her play and the stated thesis will be confirmed or negated. Eventually, an outlook will be given, which focuses on further possibilities to analyse the behaviour of the Ratcatcher and the relationships he obtains during the play.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Ratcatcher
2.1. Origins – The Pied Piper of Hamlin
2.2. Daniel Samuels’s Ratcatcher
3. Kindertransport – The Ratcatcher’s part in the play
3.1. The Ratcatcher in different Parts
3.2. The Ratcatcher and National Socialism
3.3. The Ratcatcher and Music
3.4. The Ratcatcher and Trains
3.5. The book: The Ratcatcher of Hamlin
4. Conclusion and Outlook
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This research paper examines the multifaceted significance and functions of the character "the Ratcatcher" in Diane Samuels's play Kindertransport, testing the thesis that this mythical figure is an essential element in the narrative. Through an analysis of the character's origins in folklore, his manifestations on stage, and his thematic connection to the protagonist's experiences, the study explores how the Ratcatcher visualizes Eva's psyche, trauma, and suppressed history.
- Analysis of the folklore origins of the Pied Piper and its evolution into the Ratcatcher.
- Examination of the dramatic device of "doubling" and its role in connecting male authority figures to the Ratcatcher.
- Investigation of the symbolic links between the Ratcatcher, music, and the train as metaphors for danger and displacement.
- Exploration of how the presence of the original storybook represents Eva's inescapable past and German heritage.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. The Ratcatcher in different Parts
Samuels makes use of the dramatic device of “doubling” in her play Kindertransport. This means that one actor plays more than one role within a production (Perks, Porteous 190). All the characters, except the Ratcatcher, are specific one-dimensional character types. Moreover, all men are in a position of power and authority, they have similar personality traits and represent danger in varying degrees and ways to Eva.
In the beginning of the play, all the characters are briefly explained and it is stated that the actor who portrays the Ratcatcher also plays the parts of the Nazi Border Official, the English Organiser, the Postman and the Station Guard (Samuels, Kindertransport 16). Therefore, one can draw a direct link between the character of the Ratcatcher and the other characters. However, it is important to note that the figure of the Ratcatcher is never fully seen and it is clearly stated in the play that only his shadow is presented on stage. Thus, some audience members might not directly draw the connection between the characters and therefore, the parts need to be analysed in and without reference to the Ratcatcher. In the following chapter, this relationship, the meaning of those roles and the importance of their encounters with Eva will be discussed.
The first time Eva encounters the actor of the Ratcatcher in a different role he is playing a Nazi Border Official, whom she meets on the train ride to England. Here, the officer is a figure of dominance, who demonstrates his power over the child by only talking to Eva in harsh commands and frightens the girl by threatening to throw her off the train, “might have to remove you from the train” (1.1.16 35). Moreover, the Nazi finds her forbidden music instrument and makes Eva demonstrate her lacking skills with the mouth organ.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the play Kindertransport, presents the central character of the Ratcatcher, and outlines the thesis that the Ratcatcher is an essential figure for understanding Eva's story.
2. The Ratcatcher: The section traces the folklore origins of the Pied Piper and discusses how Diane Samuels adapted this myth into her specific fictional character.
3. Kindertransport – The Ratcatcher’s part in the play: This comprehensive chapter analyzes the Ratcatcher's role through the lens of theatrical doubling, his association with National Socialism, his thematic ties to music and trains, and the psychological impact of his storybook.
4. Conclusion and Outlook: The paper summarizes the findings, confirms the thesis regarding the Ratcatcher’s essential role in the play, and suggests avenues for further research.
Keywords
Kindertransport, Diane Samuels, Ratcatcher, Pied Piper, doubling, National Socialism, music, trains, Holocaust, trauma, identity, folklore, myth, psychological shadow, Jewish heritage
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the significance of the character "the Ratcatcher" in Diane Samuels's play Kindertransport and his function as a symbolic and narrative tool to represent the protagonist's repressed trauma and fear.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The main themes include the intersection of folklore and reality, the impact of National Socialism on Jewish children, the trauma of displacement, and the symbolic representation of memory through objects like music and books.
What is the main research question or thesis?
The thesis of the paper is that the Ratcatcher is an essential character in Kindertransport, serving as a manifestation of Eva's hidden history and internal conflict.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses textual analysis of the play, incorporating psychoanalytical concepts—specifically the Jungian concept of the "shadow"—and comparative literary study between the original folklore and the play's narrative.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the paper?
The body analyzes the dramatic device of doubling, the specific symbolic associations between the Ratcatcher and power figures (Nazi officials, border guards), the role of music as a harbinger of fear, and the enduring presence of the source text (the storybook) in Eva's life.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Kindertransport, doubling, mythology, trauma, identity, and the Ratcatcher as a symbol of the Holocaust.
How does the "doubling" device specifically affect the Ratcatcher's portrayal?
The author argues that by having the same actor portray both the Ratcatcher and the various male authority figures in Eva's life, Samuels emphasizes that the threat of the Ratcatcher is continuous with the real-world threats posed by Nazi and wartime authority figures.
What is the significance of the Ratcatcher book at the end of the play?
The book symbolizes the inability of the protagonist to fully erase her past. By passing the book to her daughter, she keeps the memory—and the Ratcatcher—alive, suggesting that trauma and heritage cannot be entirely discarded.
- Citation du texte
- Anonym (Auteur), 2017, The Significance of the Ratcatcher in the Play "Kindertransport" by Diane Samuels, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/433433
