Previous Next
And surely, almost cosmic in its incomprehensibility as it may appear, the embodiment of evil which Auschwitz has become remains impenetrable only so long as we shrink from trying to penetrate it, however inadequately.

This quotation occurs in Chapter Nine as Stingo reflects on the preparations he undertook in the late 1960s to write Sophie’s story. These preparations included reading about the Holocaust and considering what it means for a writer to choose to write about this topic. In Stingo’s case, this decision is particularly complex because he is an American; he is not Jewish; and he had limited understanding of what the Holocaust actually meant until he met Sophie. Stingo acknowledges that some individuals believe it is an impossible and futile task to write about the Holocaust or believe that it is disrespectful to do so. However, this quotation shows that Stingo disagrees with these arguments. He does agree that events like what took place at Auschwitz can likely never be fully described or transmitted to readers. However, Stingo asserts that there is still value in attempting to tell the stories of what happened there. In fact, Stingo argues that refusing to write about the Holocaust perpetuates the power it holds. Stingo implies that avoiding telling these stories increases the odds that they will be forgotten or perhaps even happen again.

This quotation is important because it represents the ethical philosophy that Stingo uses to drive his literary career and his life as a whole. It is not pleasant for Stingo to think about the events of 1947, particularly the horrifying details that Sophie recounted to him. It would be far easier for Stingo to try to move forward and forget all about these matters. He has the privilege to be able to do so, and he could choose any subject matter he wants for his novels. However, Stingo feels a moral obligation to use his fame and skills as a writer to write about a subject that he believes is important. He saw the destructive effects of Sophie trying to bury her past, and he does not want her story to be forgotten. The quotation carries additional significance because by the time Stingo starts to seriously reflect on the possibility of writing about the Holocaust, decades have gone by, and the world’s attention is largely focused on other events. Stingo wants to ensure that his readers never forget about these events, even if they cannot fully comprehend them.

Previous section Important Quotes Explained Page 1 Next section Important Quotes Explained Page 3

Popular pages: Sophie's Choice

Take a Study Break