The death of the main female character's German lover, merged with feelings of angst and resentment towards her family for not accepting her choice, led her to suffer from an identity crisis because it was difficult for her to define herself as a woman without the presence of her lover. ... Because France was at war with Germany, and she, a French native, was in love with a German soldier, it was socially unacceptable to be in love with the enemy, just as it was socially unacceptable for her to be in love with a Japanese man after the bombing of Hiroshima. ... The main character, Oskar,...

• Word Count: 2771
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: Undergraduate