Quote 1

Father put on his rimless spectacles and began to read: ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path…. Thou art my hiding place and my shield….’
What kind of hiding place? I wondered idly as I watched Father’s brown beard rise and fall with the words. What was there to hide from?

In Chapter 2 when Corrie listens to Father’s daily Bible reading, she is innocent and unaware of the evil in the world. Later she and Betsie will return to this verse, which calls out the book’s theme of faith, when they are struggling in the concentration camp. By focusing on her faith in Jesus, Corrie manages to turn the horrible life in the camp into a source of strength. The title of the book comes from this quotation and the narrative returns to it again and again. The story illustrates that while the physical hiding place could be broken into, a strong faith cannot be violated.

Quote 2

The rumors tended to get more spectacular with each repetition. But always they featured things we believed were wrong in the sight of God. Stealing, lying, murder. What this what God wanted in times like these? How should a Christian act when evil was in power?

In Chapter 5, the war brings a rupture between the strong traditional values Corrie was raised with and the necessities of everyday survival. Corrie feels shaken when she tells her first lie in order to keep a forbidden radio, but she progresses to telling many lies, acting deceptively, and breaking the laws of the occupation. In this moment, she begins her progress toward understanding that there are times when it is more evil to obey the law than to break it. Although the narrative never explicitly answers Corrie’s question, her actions from this point on spell out her answer. A Christian’s role in this time is to save all the fellow human beings possible and to oppose evil with love.

Quote 3

All the watches in your closet are safe.

Found in Chapter 10, this message Nollie sends Corrie in prison exemplifies their life in the underground. Hidden under a stamp, the message uses the coded language they had developed to talk about people they were protecting. It also reveals Nollie’s understanding of Corrie’s character: that she will be relieved and uplifted by the safety of the hidden Jews.

Quote 4

'Is there darkness in your life, Lieutenant?'
…'There is great darkness,' he said at last. 'I cannot bear the work I do here.'

In Chapter 11, Corrie initially attempts to make a human connection to Lieutenant Rahms of the Gestapo because she hopes for better treatment in prison. However, she becomes interested in him as a fellow human being in pain. She is bewildered by the contrast between his official position and his occasional acts of decency. Her relationship with him and his small acts of kindness toward her, such as allowing her a peek into Betsie’s cell, foreshadow the much greater acts of forbearance and forgiveness toward Germans she will feel called upon to perform after the war ends It is also consistent with the attitude that both Betsie and to a lesser extent Corrie develop at Ravensbruck.

Quote 5

Corrie, if people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love!” We must find the way, you and I, no matter how long it takes….
 

Betsie’s character is summed up in this speech she makes at Vught in Chapter 12. She believes firmly in the power of love to overcome all divisions between people, even divisions as drastic as that between the concentration camp prisoners and the guards. When Betsie sees a person doing wrong, she is filled with compassion for the pain they must be feeling. Even Corrie cannot entirely agree with Betsie, although she loves and admires her. However, the narrative backs up Betsie’s point of view, showing her predictions coming true and Corrie accepting that Betsie was right. Once again, the theme of faith is reinforced.

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