The South As The Star Sewn Into Rosa's Coat Summary

What is going on at the beginning of the story? In the beginning of the story, the middle-aged Rosa, the young Stella, and the infant Magda are walking as a family through the cold and harshness of winter. They are walking because they are captured jews toward a concentration camp. The author indirectly hints this to the reader by writing, “hair nearly as yellow as the Star sewn into Rosa’s coat. You could think she was one of their babies” (516). The trio are being abused through neglect, they are walking skeletons, made ravenous by the Germans. Rosa, being the selfless mother that she is, gives Magda all of her food and a shawl for warmth, protection, and nourishment. Magda is being concealed from their captors, for if she were to be found, she

Also, she feels bad for having taken away the only thing that gave Magda meaning to life. Furthermore, this quote reveals to the reader the idea that people, no matter how selfish, will feel bad if they are depriving someone else of their joy. She is very selfish at this point, and while she knows it, she accepts and understands it. The situation caused her to become cold and for her survival mode to kick in. This will to survive was so powerful that it overrode her sense of loyalty to her family and her sense of love.

Why does Rosa feel a “fearful joy” on the day of Magda’s death?

Rosa feels a “fearful joy” because in the madness of despair lies the sanity of hope. Furthermore, despite the terrible event of Magda’s electrocution, Rosa can now be somewhat relieved of the stress of having to care for the child. Although she doesn’t want Magda to die, at least she won’t have to live devout of proper food, warmth, and happiness. Furthermore, she feels joy because it is putting Magda’s suffering to an end.

What is the significance of Ozick’s description of Magda as “no bigger than a moth” at the end of the