Lauren Collins Arnold INTL 3111 1/17/2014 "Silence" by Tadeusz Borowski In the short story, "Silence" by Tadeusz Borowkski,

the well known narrative of the captives during World War II is told from a new perspective; from the view of the captives themselves. Living in America, most students see this common narrative from the point of view of the American soldiers who helped win the war and "save the day". Borowski is trying to convey that while "outsiders" may try to sympathize with those who suffered at the hands of war, they can never truly understand the true damage inflicted. This narrative disparity is illustrated through the disconnect between the men at the camp and the American soldier. While American's helped fight in World War II, their experience was very different from the experiences of many Europeans forced into imprisonment. The American officer tries to connect with the men, referring to the German soldiers as "sons of bitches" and signaling that they share a common enemy. While they do share a common enemy, the men at the camp have a more personal hatred of the men that held them captive. It is this difference that causes a disconnect between the two cultures. This disparity is shown textually throughout the short story. First of all, the American must use a translator to communicate with the men. Language is just one obstacle that the American must face to try and connect with the men. When the American enters the barracks, he looks "with curiosity at the bunks and tables" showing that there is a level of unfamiliarity. In addition his appearance in a "freshly pressed uniform" directly

contrasts to "packed, noisy barracks" of the men; his very presence is a foreign entity in the camp. Overall, the disconnect between the American and the men in the camp represents a larger cultural disconnect. American society uses a stock narrative of camp prisoners as the "victims" and the American soldiers as the "heroes". What Borowski tries to express is that there are competing narratives that tell a different side of the story. It is these different points of views that help shape the distinct cultures.