Annemarie Lies

Throughout the story Annemarie is told many lies. Whether they are for good or for evil they definitely made sure everything was well in the end. These lies also changed and molded the relationships she had with the adults in her life. They even helped her on her journey into womanhood.

In the story Uncle Henrik says that Annemarie’s Great Aunt has died, but she knows she doesn’t have a great aunt. When she confronts him he says he was only trying to protect her. “There has been a death, and tonight your great aunt Birte will be resting in the living room.” (page 72) “There was no great aunt Birte. She didn’t exist.” (page 72) This helped in the story because without it Annemarie might not have known how to react when the Nazis walked into Uncle Henrik’s living room. The Johansen family and the Rosens lie to keep Ellen and her family safe from the Nazis. Ellen pretends to be Lise when the Nazis search the apartment.

An example of which would be when Uncle Henrik lied to her, but he was only trying to protect her. “To help you be brave, because we love you. Will you forgive us for that.” (page 77) This lie brought Annemarie closer to her uncle and mother, because she knew they were only trying to do the right thing. When her family lied to protect Ellen from the Nazis is another great example of this. “And this is my sister-” (page 46) “May my children go back to bed.” (page 47) This showed how she had come closer to Ellen because if the Nazis would have caught on to the lie, Annemarie and her family could have been killed or sent to a concentration camp. And finally when Annemarie lied to the Nazis to protect the Rosens and her uncle. “My uncle Henrik forgot his lunch and I’m taking it to him. He’s a fisherman.” (page 113) This lie showed how she had come closer to the Rosen family and her Uncle Henrik, because if she didn’t make it to the ship in time they would have been