Conflict
The conflicts in the novel, Between Shades of Gray, are closely based upon the events that happened in history. There are many examples of conflict in this historical fiction that tie into what happened during World War II.
One example of how the conflict matches the history is when Lina's family is taken during the night, and forced to pack a suitcase of small things. "It's a misunderstanding. Lina, are you listening? We must move quickly and pack all that is useful but not necessarily dear to us, do you understand? Lina! Clothes and shoes must be our priority. Try to fit all that you can in one suitcase." (Sepetys, 6) Lina's family packed whatever was necessary to them, very quickly. You can understand the by the choice of words and abbreviations the author uses, that it is imperative to move quickly and cautiously. This also ties in with our theme, People often have the will to survive in order to help others, because Lina's mother was telling her children to hurry and pack while she wasn't fully packed herself. We also know that they could have just given up their and been shot. But the mother was hopeful and wanted to help her children."The situation changed in 1948. The most extensive deportation from Lithuania was held on May 22 and 23, 1948. Over these two days 12,100 families, numbering over 41,000 people, were seized from their homes and exiled." (Kuodytė and Tracevskis, 1) From this quote we can understand that this was actually happening to Lithuanians. The deportees were being taken from their homes, and forced to go with the NKVD, which ties in perfectly with this novel.
The next conflict that fits into true history, was when Lina and her family were on the cattle cars for several months. " The inside of the car was stuffy and full of personal smells, even with The door open. People were wedged in everywhere, sitting on their belongings... I counted the people- forty-six packed in a cage on wheels, maybe a rolling coffin." (Sepetys, 9-10)
From this quote we know that the cattle cars were stuffy and disgusting. We know that Lina and her family were struggling on that cattle car. There was hardly any room to move, it was hard to breath, it was hard to sleep, and everyone was easily susceptible to disease. Many people died on these carts. This quote also connects with our theme because everyone jammed on the carts had to be willing to help one another in order to survive through each month. "In the cattle cars the passengers were given hardly any food except a little water and some inedible soup. There was scarcely any air to breathe as everyone was jammed together and the cars had only a few small windows covered with bars. A hole in the floor served as a toilet. Some of the people, especially the infants became sick immediately and died. The bodies of those who died on the journey were left on the side of the tracks." (Kuodytė and Tracevskis, 1) In both Between Shades of Gray and History, people were forced into cattle cars and forced to suffer for months living in filth.
From this quote we know that the cattle cars were stuffy and disgusting. We know that Lina and her family were struggling on that cattle car. There was hardly any room to move, it was hard to breath, it was hard to sleep, and everyone was easily susceptible to disease. Many people died on these carts. This quote also connects with our theme because everyone jammed on the carts had to be willing to help one another in order to survive through each month. "In the cattle cars the passengers were given hardly any food except a little water and some inedible soup. There was scarcely any air to breathe as everyone was jammed together and the cars had only a few small windows covered with bars. A hole in the floor served as a toilet. Some of the people, especially the infants became sick immediately and died. The bodies of those who died on the journey were left on the side of the tracks." (Kuodytė and Tracevskis, 1) In both Between Shades of Gray and History, people were forced into cattle cars and forced to suffer for months living in filth.
Another conflict that matches history, was when Lina, her brother, and mom had to work in the harsh living conditions and her mother died. " When the storm broke, the NKVD yelled at us to get back to work. We emerged from our mud hut. Even though it was dark, the white snow brightened the charcoal landscape. But that's all we could see- gray everywhere. The NKVD ordered us to roll and chop logs for firewood, Jonas and I passed a jurta completely covered In snow." (Sepetys, 287) This quote showed the struggle Lina's family faced, even when it just stormed and the temperature was below freezing. Lina went to go chop would with a raggedy dress on, trudging through the snow. Another quote taken from the passage is when Lina's mother died; "Mrs. Rimas touched her hand to Mother's neck. Jonas began to cry, cradling her in his eleven-year-old arms. Small whimpers became deep, racking sobs, shaking his entire body. I lay him down hugging him. Mrs. Rimas knelt beside us. "The lord is my shepherd; I shall not want," she began."Mother" cried Jonas. Tears spilled down my cheeks.
" She had a beautiful spirit," said the man who wound his watch. Janina stroked my hair.
"I love you, Mother," I whispered. " I love you, Papa." (Sepetys 316) This quote is important because it shows that the loss of her mother is what truly broke her. She mentioned that her mother was the sunlight or hope in such a dark and faded area, and now that hope was gone. This quote relates to our theme- People often have the will to survive in order to help others- because even when both of Lina's parents died she still took care of Jonas. She held him and decided to keep on pushing to help Jonas see the end. "After one month the train reached some Siberian center. The Soviets immediately put their prisoners to work. They forced women and teenage girls to march into the forest to cut trees. They worked in deep snow, even as temperatures plunged to minus 45 degrees Celsius. Prisoners cut up trees and later lived in huts made from those tree branches. Sometimes it was so cold they awoke frozen to the ground" (Augustius Żamitis, 1) In both the fictional novel and history, girls were forced to cut trees, work in deep snow, and live in inceficent huts.
Interview with a Lithuanian Deportee
Letters from Lithuanians
Poems by Lithuanian deportees