Analysis of Major Characters 1. Annemarie Johansen - Annemarie is a typical young girl in many ways. Ten years old, she deals with the typical difficulties of growing up--getting along with a sibling, understanding the way the adult world works. But these difficulties play out in the complicated and frightening context of war. War has made Annemarie a thoughtful and introspective girl. She spends much of her time reflecting on what she sees around her. Annemarie …
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…to act becomes symbolic for the terrible way the war forces people to play specific roles. Ellen is Jewish. To save herself, Ellen pretends to be Annemarie's sister so that the Germans do not take her away. For Ellen, the threats of the war are so imminent that she cannot reflect on the war like Annemarie can. Ellen is afraid. Annemarie's connection to Ellen makes the war a more pressing issue in her own life.