Faith, Love, and Optimism Theme Analysis

The Tattooist of Auschwitz showcases the ways in which hope fuels resilience. This is made evident by the fact that many of Lale’s fellow prisoners turn to their religious faith in order to withstand the terrible treatment they endure at the hands of the Nazis. This belief in something greater than themselves helps them make it from one day to the next, but Lale finds himself unable to maintain his own Jewish beliefs in the face of such horror. However, he remains generally optimistic about his future, vowing to himself that he will live to see the day the Nazis pay for their horrific, inhumane actions. In keeping with this mindset, Lale allows his love for Gita—another prisoner he meets while tattooing a group of women—to guide his thoughts and prevent him from succumbing to hopelessness. At first, Gita is hesitant to let herself think about her future with Lale, since their prospects of surviving Auschwitz are so slim. However, Lale convinces her that “there will be a tomorrow” for them, a future in which they will be free to start a family and kiss or have sex whenever they want. This, in turn, not only makes it just a little easier for them to endure otherwise unbearable circumstances, but also gives them both something to live for. In other words, their love gives them something to believe in when all else seems hopeless and futile. Fittingly, then, Morris intimates that optimism is often attainable even in dire times, especially when that optimism is founded upon love.

As early as his first night in Auschwitz, Lale responds to adversity not by losing all hope, but by committing himself to a stubborn form of optimism. Walking outside to find a place to urinate, he notices several other prisoners sitting above a ditch, all of them relieving themselves while quietly conversing. Just as Lale is about to approach, two Nazis walk by and—completely unprovoked—they shoot the men sitting above the ditch before casually walking away. This is the first act of senseless, sadistic violence that Lale has ever witnessed, but instead of letting it demoralize him to a point of total hopelessness he responds by making a promise to himself: “I will live to leave this place. I will walk out a free man.” This suggests that Lale is somebody who naturally gravitates toward hopefulness, even when facing unspeakable tragedies.

At the same time, though, Lale isn’t capable of maintaining all kinds of faith. For instance, he finds himself unable to continue his commitment to Judaism once he reaches Auschwitz and he witnesses so much horror. As many of his fellow prisoners devote themselves to prayer, he can’t find it within himself to join them. Still, the mere fact that the Jewish people around Lale are able to stay in touch with their religious faith—the very thing for which the Nazis are persecuting them—suggests that believing in something larger than oneself is a powerful way of coping with hardship. Moreover, their undisturbed commitment to Judaism indicates that sometimes adversity only strengthens a person’s resolve. After all, the prisoners who continue to practice Judaism in spite of the Nazi’s persecution have doubled down on their religious convictions rather than giving up hope. In light of this, readers see that faith often prevails in unlikely circumstances.

Although Lale can’t bring himself to continue practicing his religion in Auschwitz, he still believes in something larger than himself: love. Even before he meets Gita, he feels destined to someday find a partner who will make his life feel complete, which is perhaps one of the reasons he vows to himself that he’ll survive Auschwitz, since he hasn’t yet experienced what it’s like to be in love. It isn’t surprising, then, that he later derives so much strength and hope from his bond with Gita. Upon cementing their connection, he incorporates his determination to survive into their relationship, saying that he’ll not only stay alive, but survive with Gita, with whom he’s determined to start a family. Throughout their time in the camp, Lale reminds Gita that they will someday be able to kiss and have sex whenever they want. In fact, this last promise partially comes true before they’re even out of Auschwitz, since Lale manages to bribe Gita’s kapo into letting them spend time alone with each other. The first time they have sex, the act “strengthens [Lale’s] 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 [they] want to.’” Simply put, their love makes it even easier for Lale to maintain his hope for the future. It also takes the place of religious faith, allowing him to remain optimistic even though he can no longer find it within himself to believe in his religion. By depicting the fortifying effects of both religious belief and love, Morris helps readers see that faith can come in many different forms and can sustain people through truly horrible experiences, even when optimism seems unattainable.