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GENESIS AND CATASTROPHE

The document explores the emotional turmoil of a woman fearing for her newborn's survival due to the loss of her previous children, while highlighting her husband's cold and critical demeanor. The story's impact is intensified by the revelation that the baby is Adolf Hitler, suggesting a complex interplay of nature and nurture in shaping his future. It raises questions about whether humans are inherently good or evil, emphasizing the influence of environment on character development.

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Malak El aboubi
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7 views

GENESIS AND CATASTROPHE

The document explores the emotional turmoil of a woman fearing for her newborn's survival due to the loss of her previous children, while highlighting her husband's cold and critical demeanor. The story's impact is intensified by the revelation that the baby is Adolf Hitler, suggesting a complex interplay of nature and nurture in shaping his future. It raises questions about whether humans are inherently good or evil, emphasizing the influence of environment on character development.

Uploaded by

Malak El aboubi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GENESIS AND CATASTROPHE

1. Why is the woman so worried about her baby surviving?


The woman is overwhelmed by fear because she has lost her three previous
children: Gustav, Otto, and Ida. Each loss was devastating, and she cannot
help but believe something bad will happen again. The experience of watching
them die one by one has deeply scared her, making it impossible for her to trust
that this baby might survive. Additionally, she suspects there may be a
hereditary cause behind her children’s deaths, which adds to her anxiety.

2. What is the first thing the husband says when he meets his newly-born
baby?Alois Hitler’s first remark, upon seeing the baby, is a disdainful: “This one
is even smaller than Otto!” Instead of expressing joy or relief at the baby’s
health, his reaction is critical. This reflects his cold personality and his tendency
to judge even his own child by superficial standards like physical strength.

3. What did the doctor force him to do?


The doctor, noticing Alois’s insensitive behavior, takes him by the shoulder and
practically forces him to approach his wife to comfort her. Alois reluctantly
kisses her on the cheek, a mechanical gesture that barely serves to console
her. The doctor clearly tries to counteract the husband’s lack of affection and
provide emotional support to the woman in this vulnerable moment.

4. Give at least two reasons why you think the woman never laughed
• She has endured constant pain: losing her three children within just four
years has left her emotionally shattered, unable to find joy.
• Her relationship with Alois is oppressive and emotionally unsupportive. He is
cold, indifferent, and more focused on criticizing than consoling, leaving her
in a constant state of sadness and isolation.
5. What allusion does this story depend on? Would it be as effective if you didn’t
recognize the last name of the couple?
The story’s impact relies heavily on the surname "Hitler," which reveals that this
fragile baby is Adolf Hitler. Without this detail, it would simply be a poignant
story about a mother’s struggles with repeated family tragedies. The inclusion of
the surname shifts the reader’s perspective entirely, introducing irony: the baby
whose life the mother desperately prays for will grow up to become one of
history’s most destructive figures. This twist adds moral and reflective weight to
the story that would be lost if the child’s identity were unknown.

6. Write down 3 words to describe the husband, Alois. What similarities does he
seem to have to Hitler in his later life?

• Cold: Alois shows very little empathy, even in his wife’s most vulnerable
moments.
• Disparaging: He constantly judges and criticizes, as seen in his remark about
the baby’s frailty.
• Authoritarian: His behavior, both toward his wife and in general, reflects a
controlling and self-centered personality.

These traits appear to foreshadow characteristics that Adolf Hitler would exhibit
later in life: a lack of empathy, a disparaging attitude toward others, and an
obsession with standards of "strength" and "perfection," which would define his
ideology.
7. Consider the overall question of whether humans are born good or born evil.
What answer does this story seem to suggest?
The story does not provide a direct answer but encourages reflection on how
environment influences a person. By portraying Adolf Hitler as an innocent,
small, and fragile baby, it suggests that no one is born destined for evil.
However, the context of his childhood—with an authoritarian father and a
mother consumed by fear and despair—may have significantly shaped his
character. The tragedy lies in how someone so defenseless could become so
destructive, leaving the question of nature versus nurture open for
interpretation.

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