The Legacy of Cruelty

Abstract

The discipline of Holocaust studies has evolved to encompass a multifaceted exploration of the historical, ethical, psychological, and sociological dimensions of the event. Particularly, attention has intensified on the experiences of Holocaust survivors and the profound impact of their traumas, memories, and coping mechanisms on subsequent generations. This thesis delves into the transgenerational transmission of trauma within Holocaust survivor families. Drawing upon a range of sources, including interviews, memoirs like Lily's Promise by Lily Ebert and Dov Forman, novels like Jane Yolen's Briar Rose, and the documentary Born is Auschwitz directed by Eszter Cseke and András S. Takács, this thesis presents a comprehensive examination of the enduring impact of the Holocaust across three generations. It argues that despite the passage of time, the traumas of the Holocaust persist, shaping the lives and identities of descendants and highlighting the complex interplay between history, memory, and family dynamics in the inheritance of trauma.