The Tattooist of Auschwitz

by

Heather Morris

Gita Character Analysis

Gita is a young woman from Slovakia whom Lale meets in the concentration camp at Birkenau. The first time Lale is ordered to tattoo female prisoners, he works on re-inking Gita’s identification number while Herr Doktor Josef Mengele—whom he doesn’t yet know—walks down the line of prisoners. Taking Gita’s face in his hands, Mengele inspects her. Just as she’s about to say something, Lale squeezes her arm and furtively indicates that she should keep quiet. She follows this advice, and Mengele walks away. From this point on, Lale can’t stop thinking about Gita and the captivating way she looked into his eyes. Shy at first, Gita responds to Lale’s initial attempts to communicate with her, passing short notes to him via Baretski. Before long, she starts meeting him behind an administration building, though she refuses to tell him her last name or anything about her background, finding it hard to believe that their relationship will ever transcend the horrors of their current circumstances. Nonetheless, she gradually comes to accept Lale’s optimistic belief that they will survive the concentration camps and get married. When she contracts typhus, her friends Dana and Ivana hide her from the guards while Lale frantically tries to obtain medication from Victor and Yuri, his sources who help him smuggle contraband into the camp. In this way, Dana, and Ivana successfully keep Gita alive, at which point Lale asks Baretski for a favor and has her transferred to a position in the administration building where it’s always warm. Later, when the Nazis start emptying the camps ahead of the Russian army’s attack, Gita is swept away from Lale and forced to endure a long trek through the snow. Dana dies on this journey, but Gita escapes with four Polish girls, eventually making her way to Bratislava, where she and Lale reunite and get married.

Gita Quotes in The Tattooist of Auschwitz

The The Tattooist of Auschwitz quotes below are all either spoken by Gita or refer to Gita. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Survival and Morality Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

“Very nice,” Baretski says as he and Lale walk away. Lale ignores him and fights to control the hatred he feels.

“Would you like to meet her?” Again, Lale refuses to respond.

“Write to her, tell her you like her.”

How stupid does he think I am?

“I’ll get you paper and a pencil and bring her your letter. What do you say? Do you know her name?”

4562.

Lale walks on. He knows that the penalty for a prisoner caught with a pen or paper is death.

Related Characters: Baretski (speaker), Lale, Gita
Page Number: 50
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

Lale finds out that Baretski isn’t German but was born in Romania, in a small town near the border of Slovakia, only a few hundred miles from Lale’s hometown of Krompachy. He ran away from home to Berlin and joined the Hitler Youth and then the SS. He hates his father, who used to beat him and his brothers and sisters viciously. He is worried about his sisters, one younger, one older, who still live at home.

Later that night as they walk back to Birkenau, Lale says quietly, “I’ll take your offer of paper and pencil, if you don’t mind. Her number is 4562.”

Related Characters: Lale (speaker), Gita, Baretski
Page Number: 54
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5 Quotes

Without warning, the SS officer outside their block hits Gita in the back with his rifle. Both girls crash to the ground. Gita cries out in pain. He indicates with his rifle for them to get up. They stand, their eyes downcast.

He looks at them with disgust and snarls, “Wipe the smile from your face.” He takes his pistol from its holster and pushes it hard against Gita’s temple. He gives the instruction to another officer: “No food for them today.”

As he walks away, their kapo advances and slaps them both quickly across the face. “Don’t forget where you are.” She walks away, and Gita rests her head on Dana’s shoulder.

“I told you Lale’s going to talk to me next Sunday, didn’t I?”

Related Characters: Gita (speaker), Lale, Dana
Page Number: 64
Explanation and Analysis:

“I’m just a number. You should know that. You gave it to me.”

“Yes, but that’s just in here. Who are you outside of here?”

“Outside doesn’t exist anymore. There’s only here.”

[…]

“I don’t want to upset you, but will you promise me one thing?”

“What?”

“That before we leave here, you will tell me who you are and where you come from.”

She looks him in the eye. “Yes, I promise.”

“I’m happy with that for now. […].”

Related Characters: Lale (speaker), Gita (speaker)
Page Number: 66
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

Lale squeezes Dana’s hand. “Thank you. Try to get some food into her. I’ll have medicine tomorrow.”

He departs, his mind a whirlpool. I barely know Gita, yet how can I live if she does not?

That night, sleep evades him.

The next morning, Victor places medicine, along with food, into Lale’s bag.

That afternoon, he is able to get it to Dana.

Related Characters: Lale (speaker), Gita, Victor, Yuri, Dana
Page Number: 83
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13 Quotes

Around her she can feel the recognition of those witnessing her moment of grief. They look on in silence, each going into their own dark place of despair, not knowing what has become of their own families. Slowly, the two groups of women—the longtimers and the newcomers—join together.

Related Characters: Gita, Mrs. Goldstein
Page Number: 128
Explanation and Analysis:

“But we have no future.”

Lale holds her firmly around her waist, forces her to meet his gaze.

“Yes, we do. There will be a tomorrow for us. On the night I arrived here, I made a vow to myself that I would survive this hell. We will survive and make a life where we are free to kiss when we want to, make love when we want to.”

Related Characters: Lale (speaker), Gita (speaker)
Page Number: 219
Explanation and Analysis:

“I’m sorry that I have my escape, my Lale. You know I wish with all my heart the same for you two.”

“We are very happy that you have him,” says Ivana.

“It is enough that one of us has a little happiness. We share in it, and you let us—that’s enough for us,” says Dana.

Related Characters: Gita (speaker), Dana (speaker), Ivana (speaker), Lale
Page Number: 225
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15 Quotes

Their lovemaking is passionate, desperate. It is a need so long in the making that it cannot be denied. Two people desperate for the love and intimacy they fear they will otherwise never experience. It seals their commitment to each other, and Lale knows at this moment that he can love no other. It strengthens his resolve to go on another day, and another day, for a thousand days, for however long it takes for them to live by his words to Gita: “To be free to make love wherever, whenever we want to.”

Related Characters: Lale, Gita
Page Number: 145
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 17 Quotes

“What do you mean, hero? She’s not a hero,” Gita says with some annoyance. “She just wants to live.”

“And that makes her a hero. You’re a hero, too, my darling. That the two of you have chosen to survive is a type of resistance to these Nazi bastards. Choosing to live is an act of defiance, a form of heroism.”

Related Characters: Lale (speaker), Gita (speaker), Cilka, Schwarzhuber
Page Number: 156
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 19 Quotes

“Have you lost your faith?” Gita asks as she leans back into Lale’s chest […].

“Why do you ask?” he says, stroking the back of her head.

“Because I think you have,” she says, “and that saddens me.”

“Then clearly you haven’t lost yours?”

“I asked first.”

“Yes, I think I have,” Lale answers.

“When?”

“The first night I arrived here. I told you what happened, what I saw. How any merciful god could let that happen, I don’t know. And nothing has happened since that night to change my mind. Quite the opposite.”

“You have to believe in something.”

“I do. I believe in you and me, and getting out of here, and making a life together where we can—” […]

Related Characters: Lale (speaker), Gita (speaker)
Page Number: 167
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23 Quotes

The men in Lale’s block also tell him of rumors about a general uprising, which they wanted to join but didn’t believe it was meant to happen on this day. They have heard that the Russians are advancing, and the uprising was planned to coincide with their arrival, to assist them in liberating the camp. Lale admonishes himself for not having made friends with his block companions sooner. Not having this knowledge nearly got Gita killed.

Related Characters: Lale, Gita
Page Number: 204
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 28 Quotes

He feels profound grief for his scattered family. At the same time, he longs for Gita, and this gives him the sense of purpose he needs to carry on. He must find her. He has promised.

Related Characters: Lale, Gita, Goldie
Page Number: 249
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Tattooist of Auschwitz PDF

Gita Quotes in The Tattooist of Auschwitz

The The Tattooist of Auschwitz quotes below are all either spoken by Gita or refer to Gita. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Survival and Morality Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

“Very nice,” Baretski says as he and Lale walk away. Lale ignores him and fights to control the hatred he feels.

“Would you like to meet her?” Again, Lale refuses to respond.

“Write to her, tell her you like her.”

How stupid does he think I am?

“I’ll get you paper and a pencil and bring her your letter. What do you say? Do you know her name?”

4562.

Lale walks on. He knows that the penalty for a prisoner caught with a pen or paper is death.

Related Characters: Baretski (speaker), Lale, Gita
Page Number: 50
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

Lale finds out that Baretski isn’t German but was born in Romania, in a small town near the border of Slovakia, only a few hundred miles from Lale’s hometown of Krompachy. He ran away from home to Berlin and joined the Hitler Youth and then the SS. He hates his father, who used to beat him and his brothers and sisters viciously. He is worried about his sisters, one younger, one older, who still live at home.

Later that night as they walk back to Birkenau, Lale says quietly, “I’ll take your offer of paper and pencil, if you don’t mind. Her number is 4562.”

Related Characters: Lale (speaker), Gita, Baretski
Page Number: 54
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5 Quotes

Without warning, the SS officer outside their block hits Gita in the back with his rifle. Both girls crash to the ground. Gita cries out in pain. He indicates with his rifle for them to get up. They stand, their eyes downcast.

He looks at them with disgust and snarls, “Wipe the smile from your face.” He takes his pistol from its holster and pushes it hard against Gita’s temple. He gives the instruction to another officer: “No food for them today.”

As he walks away, their kapo advances and slaps them both quickly across the face. “Don’t forget where you are.” She walks away, and Gita rests her head on Dana’s shoulder.

“I told you Lale’s going to talk to me next Sunday, didn’t I?”

Related Characters: Gita (speaker), Lale, Dana
Page Number: 64
Explanation and Analysis:

“I’m just a number. You should know that. You gave it to me.”

“Yes, but that’s just in here. Who are you outside of here?”

“Outside doesn’t exist anymore. There’s only here.”

[…]

“I don’t want to upset you, but will you promise me one thing?”

“What?”

“That before we leave here, you will tell me who you are and where you come from.”

She looks him in the eye. “Yes, I promise.”

“I’m happy with that for now. […].”

Related Characters: Lale (speaker), Gita (speaker)
Page Number: 66
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

Lale squeezes Dana’s hand. “Thank you. Try to get some food into her. I’ll have medicine tomorrow.”

He departs, his mind a whirlpool. I barely know Gita, yet how can I live if she does not?

That night, sleep evades him.

The next morning, Victor places medicine, along with food, into Lale’s bag.

That afternoon, he is able to get it to Dana.

Related Characters: Lale (speaker), Gita, Victor, Yuri, Dana
Page Number: 83
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13 Quotes

Around her she can feel the recognition of those witnessing her moment of grief. They look on in silence, each going into their own dark place of despair, not knowing what has become of their own families. Slowly, the two groups of women—the longtimers and the newcomers—join together.

Related Characters: Gita, Mrs. Goldstein
Page Number: 128
Explanation and Analysis:

“But we have no future.”

Lale holds her firmly around her waist, forces her to meet his gaze.

“Yes, we do. There will be a tomorrow for us. On the night I arrived here, I made a vow to myself that I would survive this hell. We will survive and make a life where we are free to kiss when we want to, make love when we want to.”

Related Characters: Lale (speaker), Gita (speaker)
Page Number: 219
Explanation and Analysis:

“I’m sorry that I have my escape, my Lale. You know I wish with all my heart the same for you two.”

“We are very happy that you have him,” says Ivana.

“It is enough that one of us has a little happiness. We share in it, and you let us—that’s enough for us,” says Dana.

Related Characters: Gita (speaker), Dana (speaker), Ivana (speaker), Lale
Page Number: 225
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15 Quotes

Their lovemaking is passionate, desperate. It is a need so long in the making that it cannot be denied. Two people desperate for the love and intimacy they fear they will otherwise never experience. It seals their commitment to each other, and Lale knows at this moment that he can love no other. It strengthens his resolve to go on another day, and another day, for a thousand days, for however long it takes for them to live by his words to Gita: “To be free to make love wherever, whenever we want to.”

Related Characters: Lale, Gita
Page Number: 145
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 17 Quotes

“What do you mean, hero? She’s not a hero,” Gita says with some annoyance. “She just wants to live.”

“And that makes her a hero. You’re a hero, too, my darling. That the two of you have chosen to survive is a type of resistance to these Nazi bastards. Choosing to live is an act of defiance, a form of heroism.”

Related Characters: Lale (speaker), Gita (speaker), Cilka, Schwarzhuber
Page Number: 156
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 19 Quotes

“Have you lost your faith?” Gita asks as she leans back into Lale’s chest […].

“Why do you ask?” he says, stroking the back of her head.

“Because I think you have,” she says, “and that saddens me.”

“Then clearly you haven’t lost yours?”

“I asked first.”

“Yes, I think I have,” Lale answers.

“When?”

“The first night I arrived here. I told you what happened, what I saw. How any merciful god could let that happen, I don’t know. And nothing has happened since that night to change my mind. Quite the opposite.”

“You have to believe in something.”

“I do. I believe in you and me, and getting out of here, and making a life together where we can—” […]

Related Characters: Lale (speaker), Gita (speaker)
Page Number: 167
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23 Quotes

The men in Lale’s block also tell him of rumors about a general uprising, which they wanted to join but didn’t believe it was meant to happen on this day. They have heard that the Russians are advancing, and the uprising was planned to coincide with their arrival, to assist them in liberating the camp. Lale admonishes himself for not having made friends with his block companions sooner. Not having this knowledge nearly got Gita killed.

Related Characters: Lale, Gita
Page Number: 204
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 28 Quotes

He feels profound grief for his scattered family. At the same time, he longs for Gita, and this gives him the sense of purpose he needs to carry on. He must find her. He has promised.

Related Characters: Lale, Gita, Goldie
Page Number: 249
Explanation and Analysis: