Alice Khaltsev

9 Honors Literature and Composition

Ms. Smit
January 10, 2016
War of the Classes : Socioeconomic Influence
Part 1
People naturally decide to criticize someone based on their appearance or based on how
rich or poor they are. Many of these people who criticize are the wealthy and they are the ones
oppressing people beneath them. In this novel, a young lady named Julie ends up in the eerie
depths of a Nazi prison. She tells her story and how she got there throughout the book. Her
capturer , SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Von Linden, is a stern and harsh old man that has taken every bit
of pride away from her. He forces her to interpret wireless codes and cough up up everything I
can remember about the British War Effort (4). Von Linden has completely taken control over
Julie and her life. He is a person of power who oppresses Julie, a girl who is completely weak
and helpless. There is classism in this situation. Classism is when a person of power and wealth
has control over a weaker person who may not be as wealthy. In this book one sees Von Linden
as the one who manipulates Julie, a girl that has nothing left.
Julie keeps writing about how she is tired, poorly fed, and feels like she has no
importance in her life anymore. But now I know I am a coward (3). Von Linden has
diminished any sense of pride left in Julie. In the story , Julie calls herself many harsh names and
ciezes to hope for the better. Because Julie is lower class, she cannot do anything to help herself,
and she does not have any simple rights. Julie cannot eat or drink whenever she needs, she
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cannot say what she wishes to say, and she cannot wear her own clothes. Von Linden restricts all
these basic freedoms and becomes the dictator of her life because he has unlimited power and
wealth.
This treatment that Von Linden gives her starts to confuse Julie and give her a twisted
mind. She has changed her opinions and views on many thing as well. She used to see bright
things in the world, but now Julie cannot look at her horrible self in the mirror. Behead me or
hang me, they will never fear me- (147). When Julie said this she realized that she could not
carry on any longer in her life and was ready to die. Julie also allows everything and anything to
occur in order to live. She has allowed the cook to fondle with my breasts (Wein 84) for food.
This young lady used to be proud of who she is, but after she was captured, she has no interest in
what is happening to her. Von Linden has tricked her mind into wanting to die after all the
punishments she has been through such as kerosene being poured on her head. There are now
thoughts in her head about destroying life, and no longer has the ability to see beauty and
innocence. She will burn Auchindon ere my life leave me (167). In life, peoples joyful
memories can be obliterated by sever pain and cruelty. People during World War II would forget
their happy memories with their families because of the oppression and pain. People with more
power will always try to harm powerless people and try to control them physically and mentally.
Through Julies stay at prison, Elizabeth Wein demonstrates the social injustice of classism.

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Part 2

Classism still exists in todays society. Many people are discriminated because they do
not have anything desirable or cannot enjoy expensive lavish activities. For example, healthcare
is simply not provided for minorities. It seems like every human being should have the right to
proper healthcare. Researchers have found that today in our society, legal immigrants are less
likely to visit a doctor or get any type of healthcare service. Immigrant adults are also less likely
to use emergency rooms than low-income natives (Ku, Jewer 1). Immigrants are humans just
like the rest of American citizens, they need to go to the doctors and should be able to have
access to emergency rooms when needed. Immigrants are people who are not as rich as natives
because they have just moved from another country. The doctors and the other staff that are
supposed to take care of them should treat them just as well as citizens who receive a higher pay.
These doctors have control over these underprivileged immigrants.
Just like in this book, there is also classism existing in different races. White people are
seen as more powerful than the black community. Whites can usually escape different situations,
although blacks usually do not get another chance. In recent cases, there is a trend showing that
black people are more likely to get shot by police officers than white people. A young teenager
named Michael Brown was an unarmed black teenager (Buchanan et. al) who was shot and
killed by a white police officer. If Michael Brown was a white teenager he may have not been
killed by the white officer. Mr. Brown never moved back toward the officer after running away
(Buchanan et. al). The police officer was never threatened by the black teenager, yet he still shot
the teenager. Today in our society people see that one can get get away with something if they
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are the correct race or proper skin tone. Teenagers should be punished equally, but they are
not. The white police officer was a person of power who murdered a defenseless, weak, young
man.
People are able to get off the hook by being what the society desires. If one is white and
rich, they may get off the hook. If one is poor and black, he has a greater chance of being shot.
Groups or minorities are also discriminated against. Immigrants do not have the right to good
healthcare even though they are living in this country. There are still people today that beat down
the needy or less fortunate. Race and class still impact our society.
Part 3
People all around America have different views on class and discrimination.
Although many say they are not racist or do not discriminate against fortuneless individuals, they
still discriminate against these people. Immigrants are one group of people that is victimized.
There are also issues regarding race and favoritism over a certain nationality. Many citizens are
not informed about these issues going on in this world. Younger children should grow up in a
world that has no racial discrimination or any concerns having to do with class. If one sees a
homeless person on the streets, he or she should not make conclusions right away or take
advantage of that person. To prevent this issue from spreading, students should be educated on
this topic. They need to go to school and avoid any racial bias. If they all grow up and are
informed about this topic, they should be able to help people in need and not look at poor people
as inferior individuals. By doing this, our community can become stronger and work together to

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solve any other affairs in the future without any prejudice or feeling uncomfortable towards each
other.

Bibliography

Buchanan, Larry et al. "Report: What Happened In Ferguson?". Nytimes.com. N.p., 2015.
Web. 11 Jan. 2016.

Ku, Leighton, and Mariellen Jewers. "Health Care For Immigrant Families: Current
Policies And Issues". migrationpolicy.org. N.p., 2013. Web. 11 Jan. 2016.

Wein, Elizabeth. Code Name Verity. New York: Hyperion, 2012. Print.