Jacob Character Analysis in Once

Jacob is one of the Jewish children that Barney is hiding from the Nazis. Because he blinks so much, Felix sometimes calls him “the blinking boy.” He figures out a method of piling mattresses so that the children hiding in the cellar can see through a high crack into the street. Zelda becomes convinced she’s seen her mother through the crack, an incident that finally convinces Felix to admit to her that he saw her parents’ corpses. Later, Jacob tells the other children that Nazis burnt his entire family to death.

Jacob Character Timeline in Once

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

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.... (full context)

...a crack near the ceiling, and says they can see into the street from there. Jacob confirms it—he’s piled up mattresses, stood on them, and peered out. Felix and Zelda try... (full context)

...Other children start crying. Ruth says that “goblins” beat her father to death with sticks. Jacob says he found his family burned when he came home from school. Henryk says that... (full context)

...and a few other passengers have already gone to the bathroom in the corner. When Jacob asks whether they’ll arrive soon, Barney shushes him. Felix suspects this is because if Jacob... (full context)