Winner of the national book award and a modern classic, sophies choice centers on three characters. From the novel and film of the same name, an impossibly difficult choice, especially when forced onto someone. Ill start with a positive, as there were many reasons to love this book. Sophies choice by william styron august 10, 2010 april 24, 2015 thomas even though i have not seen the film adaptation of sophies choice, i must say that i had a very difficult time not seeing and hearing meryl streep every time sophie spoke.
It provides a thorough exploration of the novels plot, characters and main themes, including the. Sophies choice novel ultimate pop culture wiki fandom. It concerns the relationships between three people. Meryl streep stars as sophie, a polish immigrant who shares a boarding house in brooklyn with her tempestuous lover, nathan kevin kline in his feature film debut, and a young writer, stingo peter macnicol streeps performance was acclaimed, and she received the. This awardwinning novel of love, survival, and agonizing regret in postwwii brooklyn belongs on that small shelf reserved for american masterpieces the washington post book world. Stingo, a novelist who is recalling the summer when he began his first novel, has been fired from his lowlevel. She recounts the night she arrived at auschwitz with her children, and of how a nazi officer forced her to choose life for one child, and death for the other.
Shira nayman, an australian native, has just published a collection of short fiction about the holocaust called awake in the dark, a portion of which has been set to music. Stingo, a young aspiring writer from the south, and the jewish scientist nathan landau and his lover sophie, a polish catholic survivor of the german nazi concentration camps, whom he befriends. It won the 1980 national book award and became a bestseller. Sophie s choice is centered on a scene in auschwitz where sophie has just arrived with her tenyear old son and her sevenyear old daughter and a sadistic doctor, presumably doctor mengele, tells her that she can only bring one of her children. The movie takes place in the late 1940s when a young writer stingo, moves in manhattan from the south. And sophies choice will probably draw similar accusations about styrons use of the holocaust. Sophies choice won the american book award and sold more than three million copies worldwide, but the novel has remained controversialfor its perceived treatment of women, its mixing of sexual comedy with high tragedy, and its legitimacy as an. In the end, i think this book, full of the horrors of human cruelty, really confirms the interconnectedness of things. It is this horrendous decision upon which the entire plot of the novel hinges.
For me, it would have been much better if it had focused on the choice and the consequence without the completely unbelievable sex scene, which replaced the much more poignant climax of the choice. Sophies choice, novel by william styron, published in 1979, that examines the historical, moral, and psychological ramifications of the holocaust through the. William styrons novel of choices, hobsons and otherwise this novel was chosen by members of on the southern literary trail as a group read for september, 2014. In short, yes, the story and characters are definitely strong, but to include it in a list of best books, i disagree.
Sophie s choice tells the story of three young friends who lived in brooklyn in 1947. Stingo insists that they start a family, but sophie has yet to tell him her final secret her choice. William styron 19252006, a native of the virginia tidewater, was a graduate of duke university and a veteran of the u. The plot ultimately centers on a tragic decision which sophie was forced to make upon. Stingo, a young writer, moves to brooklyn in 1947 to begin work on his first novel. First published in 1979, sophies choice by william styron is often regarded as a. Sophie s choice is the story of a concentration camp survivor named sophie and her emotionally volatile lover, nathan. They sleep together that night, but stingo wakes up alone. Set in the late 1940s, the novel is narrated by stingo, a young southern writer who is the authors thinly veiled alter ego.
These questions will help facilitate a class discussion on this books characters. Sophies choice, novel by william styron, published in 1979, that examines the historical, moral, and psychological ramifications of the holocaust through the tragic life of a roman catholic survivor of auschwitz set in the late 1940s, the novel is narrated by stingo, a young southern writer who is the authors thinly veiled alter ego. Jul 08, 2018 what i didnt expect, however, was to deal with a narrator whos mind was centered around sex in his every waking moment, and a story that evaded its own plot for more than 400 pages. A contemporary casebook, edited by rhoda sirlin and james l. Gebruikersportaal snelcursus hulp en contact donaties. It contains the major themes of his previous fiction, embodying his loves of the south and of literature, his experience of war, and his quest. Sep 03, 2014 reading strategies for sophies choice wsj book club by. The plot ultimately centers around a tragic decision which sophie was forced to make upon entering the concentration. Stingo, a novelist who is recalling the summer when he began his first novel, has been fired from his low. His stifling ninetofive job at a publishing company kills his spirit and. The tale follows this writer who moves into a boarding house in brooklyn only. It concerns a young american southerner, an aspiring writer, who befriends the jewish nathan landau and his beautiful lover sophie, a polish survivor of the german nazi concentration camps. As he becomes friendly with sophie and her lover nathan, he learns that. Sophie s choice is undoubtedly one of the best books of the 20th century or any century for that matter.
After that, it felt wrong not to go on, but i read as fast as possible so i could escape these awful pages. Characters summary of the novel she is the main character friends with stingo and nathan lover grew up in warsaw poland and is a christian survived the nazi concentration camps works at a chiropractic office as a receptionist lives in yettas pink house zofia sophie. William styron, the wellknown american novelist, received the pulitzer prize in 1967 for the confessions of nat turner. I still maintain that, as to sophies choice book, streeps sophie is a beautiful realization of that character. Once she has told him, sophie asks stingo not to talk about marriage and children. Sophies choice novel project gutenberg selfpublishing. Sophies choice discuss sophie and hannas shame and guilt in sophies choice by william styron and the reader by berhnard schlink. Nathan claims to have graduated from harvard university as a biologist. Stingo, the narrator, is a southern boy, born and bred, who moved to new york with the ambition of becoming a writer. In the case of sophie herself, it is hard to work out if she is a collaborator, an innocent victim, a resistance fighter or someone whose only motivation is the desire for. Ironically, profits from the slave trade will support stingo, who is to write novels about racism.
This study guide consists of approximately 80 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of sophie s choice. Youve reached the hub for any and all dramatica analysis of sophies choice. Completely ruined the book and detracted from the impact of the choice, which was what the book was supposed to be. Both female protagonists have powerful experiences in the idea of. The narrator talks about a book by george steiner called language and silence, which stingo reads twenty years.
Sophie s choice is partly based on the authors time in brooklyn, where he met a refugee from poland. His stifling ninetofive job at a publishing company kills his spirit and his hopes, and the young man quickly becomes jaded. See a complete list of the characters in sophies world and indepth analyses of sophie, alberto, hilde, and albert knag. The book gives an inside look into the lives of two very different individuals, sophie, a polish woman and an auschwitz survivor, as well as nathan, a jewish man who is a paranoid. First, this book will counter the many critics who have assailed the novel as antisemitic. The other narrator, contained within stingos story, is sophie herself, who remembers what happened to her during world war ii, and shares her memories with stingo. Sophie s choice is a 1982 american drama film directed by alan j. Sophies choice, novel by william styron, published in 1979, that examines the historical, moral, and psychological ramifications of the holocaust through the tragic life of a roman catholic survivor of auschwitz. Sophie s choice, novel by william styron, published in 1979, that examines the historical, moral, and psychological ramifications of the holocaust through the tragic life of a roman catholic survivor of auschwitz. This book will demonstrate, however, that sophies choice is styrons most audacious, original, and artistically successful novel to date.
Saving sophie is an exciting novel that can introduce conversations about world events, morality, and conflict. Sophie amundsen is fourteen years old when the book begins, living in norway. About sophies choice, sophie certainly was in an unenviable position. West iii this book first published 2007 by cambridge scholars publishing 15 angerton gardens, newcastle, ne5 2ja, uk british library cataloguing in publication data a catalogue record for this book is available from the british library. The movie, like the book, is told with two narrators. But the story seemed much like any other holocaust movie with generous attention to the horrors of nazi rule. For these and other reasons, sophies choice has engendered almost as much controversy as the confessions of nat turner did in 1967. A frightened polish mother stands in line for the german concentration camps, holding her young daughter while her young son huddles closely. Every day, a letter comes to her mailbox that contains a few questions and then later in the day a package comes with some typed pages describing the ideas of a philosopher who dealt with the issues raised by the questions.
The choice is between two unbearable options, and its essentially a nowin situation. Sophies choice is a 1982 american drama film directed by alan j. Sophie s choice questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on sophie s choice. The term sophies choice, which derives from a critical plot point in william styrons eponymous novel, has become a prominent american idiom. What first struck me about sophies choice was the prose. Sophies choice is centered on a scene in auschwitz where sophie has just arrived with her tenyear old son and her sevenyear old daughter and a sadistic doctor, presumably doctor mengele, tells.
The book would be unsuitable for younger readers because of its explicit treatment of sex. It is described as an american classic or historical fiction, though it falls squarely into the category of adult literary fiction. He was awarded the pulitzer prize for fiction, the howells. Pivotal flashback scene from the film sophies choice 1982 starring meryl streep. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. It provides a thorough exploration of the novels plot, characters and main themes, including the legacy of the holocaust and slavery in the american south. William styrons 1979 novel sophies choice consists of a story within a story. The book was beautiful and i devoured the sexually charged writing, but the plot lost all the momentum in the end. Stingo peter macnicol, a young writer, moves to brooklyn in 1947 to begin work on his first novel. William styron william styrons novel sophies choice explores the way people moved on with life after the great depression, and world war ii. Nathan, his charismatic but violent jewish neighbor. Sophies choice is a tragic tale that was produced in 1982 and stars meryl streep as the main polish immigrant next to kevin kline as her unstable lover and peter macnicol as a writer. In an exclusive clip from a new roundtable discussion that is part of the new sophies choice bluray out april 29, streep says she didnt act when the soldier ripped lejeune from her. A contemporary casebook is a collection of interpretations and reactions to william styrons famous 1979 novel of the holocaust.
He meets a couple in his apartment building sophie, a catholic and nathan, a jew. As he becomes friendly with sophie meryl streep and her lover nathan kevin kline, he learns that sophie is a holocaust survivor. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question. Pakula and starring kevin kline, peter macnicol, stephen d. He says it is the most insightful of all the books he has read on the holocaust over the years, and it stands out in his mind because it was published in 1967, the same year stingo would publish the novel of which he was most. Open road media 0 21 0 summary this awardwinning novel of love, survival, and agonizing regret in postwwii brooklyn belongs on that small shelf reserved for american masterpieces the washington post book world. The 1982 film adaptation, starring meryl streep and kevin kline, garnered an oscar for streeps. She begins a strange correspondence course in philosophy. Jun 23, 2011 for me, it would have been much better if it had focused on the choice and the consequence without the completely unbelievable sex scene, which replaced the much more poignant climax of the choice. And sophie s choice will probably draw similar accusations about styrons use of the holocaust. He selected william styrons 1979 novel, sophies choice, and will lead a. This style helps avoid the story plunging into a pit of despair. Pakulas theatrical treatment of sophies choice was a miscalculation, but im not convinced that it was. Sophies choice is a 1979 novel by american author william styron.
His stifling ninetofive job at a publishing company kills his spirit and his hopes, and the. This book will demonstrate, however, that sophies choice is styrons most audacious, original, and artistically successful novel to. Stingo, a young aspiring writer from the south who befriends the jewish nathan landau and his beautiful lover sophie, a polish survivor of the german nazi concentration camps. In addition to the storyform, youll also find any additional analysis or media related to the story in question more analysis south park. Reading strategies for sophies choice wsj book club. The tale follows this writer who moves into a boarding house in brooklyn only to meet sophie and her emotionally unstable lover. The plot ultimately centers on a tragic decision which sophie was. This months wsj book club host is thriller writer lee child, author of the bestselling jack reacher books. The most poignant scenes in the book are pitchperfect on screen, and the concentration camp footage is heartbreaking. His books include lie down in darkness, the long march, set this house on fire, the confessions of nat turner, sophies choice, this quiet dust, darkness visible, and a tidewater morning. Sophies choice tells the story of three young friends who lived in brooklyn in 1947. Much is made in the book of sophies blonde, blueeyed good looks, how a certain amount of special treatment helped her survive the concentration camp, how it showed the nazis to be insane about the whole aryan thing, and how her blonde good looks gave the idiot narrator a stiffie.
In this sophies choice excerpt he describes a young polish mother, sophie, with her two small children, being transported in a crowded train by german soldiers during world war ii to auschwitz, the nazi concentration camp. Sophies choice questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on sophies choice. It concerns the relationships between three people sharing a boarding house in brooklyn. Pakulas theatrical treatment of sophie s choice was a miscalculation, but im not convinced that it was. A contemporary casebook xi portrait of vichy france. Sophie s choice is a 1979 novel by american author william styron. Pakula, who adapted william styrons novel of the same name. Sophies choice is a novel by american author william styron, that was published in 1979. Their doomed relationship is observed by their young friend, stingo, who records sophie s memories of the war years and the horrible choice she is forced to make that will doom all her future chances of happiness. Sophies choice 1979 is one of william styrons betterremembered novels. Sophies choice begins as a young southerners odyssey to the unimaginable northto that strange land celebrated by his hero, thomas wolfe, who took the allnight train to new york with its riches, its women, and its romance. More than once in this smugly autobiographical novel, styron pouts about how his last book, the confessions of nat turner, drew accusations of exploitation, accusations that i had turned to my own profit and advantage the miseries of slavery.
One is stingo, who remembers these people from that summer in brooklyn, and who also remembers himself at that much earlier age. This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of sophies choice by william styron. Of course, the film feels longer than it is, and pakulas style. Flashbacks reveal her harrowing story, from prewar prosperity to auschwitz. Meryl streep stars as sophie, a polish immigrant who shares a boarding house in brooklyn with her tempestuous lover, nathan kevin kline in his feature film debut, and a young writer, stingo peter macnicol. Sophies choice is undoubtedly one of the best books of the 20th century or any century for that matter. It concerns the relation between three people sharing a boarding house in brooklyn. The narrator talks about a book by george steiner called language and silence, which stingo reads twenty years after his summer with nathan and sophie. Apr 25, 2014 anyone whos seen sophies choice knows the scene.
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