Seminar paper from the year 2017 in the subject Didactics - English -
Literature, Works, grade: 1,3, Technical University of Braunschweig,
language: English, abstract: 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.
