How is Eva presented in Kindertransport?

Point (title)/Technique

Quote/Evidence

Dramatically, Samuels uses

No one will know what to do with

multi-rolling to present Eva as

you if they cant see your

the figures of authority are men as Hitler was male. Link to context of

fearful of authority and males

number officer (p.18)

WW2.
Overlap between time periods shows that her fear of authority

All Germans smell postman

Explain/Analyse

continues into adult life supports the idea that Eva is suppressed

(p.53)

The rat catcher takes the form

of many characters: character

This show Evas paranoia that she will be taken. It is significant that all

within Evelyn in later life.

The ignorance of the British adds to her insecurity and the feeling she

doesnt belong.
The key figure of male authority is the Ratcatcher; he takes the form
of the officer, the postman, the station guard and the English

list.

organiser.
The personification of the Ratcatcher allows the audience to see how
Eva and later Evelyn is ruled by fear due to her insecurity at being
taken away from her family.

Dramatically, Samuels uses props

to show how Eva is affected by
the move to England.

She plays the mouth organ when younger but her chastisement at the

You need more practice. Better

hands of the officer symbolises how her creativity and childhood

keep it. (p.20)

optimism is squashed by the Nazi regime. (Diff int) It could also

present how her life is harmonious at the start of the play, but her
later refusal to play the mouth organ shows it is disharmonious and she
has lost her enthusiasm for life.

Linguistically, Eva speaks in both

that can be the first English you

While Eva speaks German at the beginning of the play, Evelyn later only

How is Eva presented in Kindertransport?

German and English which shows

learn Lil (p.28)

her identity confusion begins as

I dont quite understand Evelyn

a young age

(p.81)

speaks in English showing her distance from her original identity.

Lil encourages Eva to speak English and move away from her Jewish
heritage. It shows her transition between lifestyles she has no
choice but to learn English. This contributes to the interpretation of
Lil as the Ratcatcher later in the play she stole Eva and forced her to

change.
In later life, she has nothing in common with Helga, showing she denies
her previous life in Germany as well as her roots to Judaism. She
prefers her new life in Britain because Germany spat her out. (Diff
int) Links to Holocaust deniers and those that denied what happened to
protect themselves from the guilt.

Not only does Eva represent Evelyns vulnerability but it also shows

Structurally, Samuels uses past

Evelyns clothes and hair are

and present to illustrate the

unkemptaround her sit Helga

(diff int) how she carries her past with her at all times. Eva and

change in Eva personality, as she

and a curled-up Eva. (p.47)

Evelyn are intertwined throughout the play.

becomes Evelyn

The presentation of Evas

Evelyn. My name is Evelyn.

character links with many key

(p.83)

themes in the play such as the

Home is inside you. Inside me

theme of identity,

and you. Its not a place.

Why have you lost yourself
Eva? (p.84)
Slithering out of yourself like it

Eva suffered a loss of identity when she was sent away on the

Kindertransport.
She loses the concept of home and doesnt feel she belongs anywhere.
Helga struggles to understand her daughter later in the play she is

disappointed and confused shown by the questioning.

She describes Evelyn using a metaphor or a snake. This has
connotations of something that is sly and evil. The sibilance is

How is Eva presented in Kindertransport?

was an unwanted skin(p.85)

unnerving and portrays Evelyn as leaving Eva behind. This image of

abandonment is interesting and the word unwanted shows how
insignificant her previous life as Eva has become it implies Evelyn is
malicious and duplicity. (diff int)The metaphor also connotes
reinvention and paints Evelyn as selfish.