Henryk Character Analysis in Once

Henryk is one of the young Jewish children that Barney is hiding from the Nazis. When Felix first wakes up in Barney’s secret cellar, he hears Henryk crying for his parents and Barney suggesting that Henryk may see his parents sometime in the future—a suggestion Felix scorns, thinking Henryk should be allowed to go find his parents right away. Felix’s reaction to Henryk shows Felix’s naivete about the situation in Nazi-occupied Poland. Later, Henryk reveals that Nazis killed and mutilated his dog, Sigi, exemplifying the horrible, pointless cruelty of antisemitic violence.

Henryk Character Timeline in Once

The timeline below shows where the character Henryk appears in Once. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Later, crying wakes Felix. A little boy is sobbing. Barney calls the boy Henryk and promises to care for him until he’s reunited with his parents. When Henryk stops... (full context)

...story from Felix’s notebook. Felix, donning his glasses, sees children all around his bed: Zelda, Henryk, Ruth, a young boy gnawing on “a piece of wood” (Moshe), a girl “with a... (full context)

Henryk asks for a story. Felix refuses, saying he must leave. He looks around and concludes... (full context)

Antisemitism vs. Human Dignity Theme Icon

Ruth says she’d like neater hair. A boy named Jacob says he wants his dog. Henryk says he wants his dog and his grandmother’s dog. The toddler says he wants a... (full context)

...with sticks. Jacob says he found his family burned when he came home from school. Henryk says that goblins “killed Sigi and cut his tail off.” (full context)