A Complete Guide to 'Kindertransport'

Overview

• Kindertransport (1993) by Diane Samuels is a historical drama that explores the emotional impact of the Kindertransport programme, which rescued Jewish children from Nazi Germany but separated them from their families.

• The play follows Eva Schlesinger, a nine-year-old German-Jewish girl, who is sent to England to escape Nazi persecution. Over time, she assimilates into British life, renaming herself Evelyn and cutting ties with her past.

• The narrative is non-linear, shifting between three time periods—pre-WWII Germany (1939), wartime Britain, and the 1980s—where Evelyn's daughter Faith discovers her mother's hidden past.

• The play examines themes of identity, trauma, motherhood, and survival, with the Ratcatcher acting as a metaphor for fear, loss, and the inability to escape one's past.

  

• Inspired by real Kindertransport stories, Samuels uses the play to explore the psychological burden of survival and the complexities of memory and identity.

Plot Summary

• The play follows Eva Schlesinger, a nine-year-old German-Jewish girl, who is placed on a Kindertransport by her mother, Helga, to escape the growing dangers of Nazi Germany in 1939. She arrives in England and is taken in by Lil, an English woman who becomes her foster mother.
• Eva assimilates into British culture as time passes, eventually changing her name to Evelyn and distancing herself from her Jewish heritage. She struggles with guilt, identity, and the trauma of abandonment.
• Helga survives the war and finds Eva years later, hoping to reunite. However, Eva, now Evelyn, refuses to leave England, rejecting her mother and choosing to remain with Lil. This moment symbolises Eva's complete transformation and the severing of her past.
• In the 1980s, Evelyn's daughter, Faith, uncovers her mother's hidden history when she finds old papers and photos in the attic. This discovery leads to conflict between them, as Faith feels betrayed by Evelyn's secrecy.
• As tensions rise, Evelyn attempts to destroy the remnants of her past, but the shadow of the Ratcatcher looms over her, symbolising how trauma and memory can never be fully erased.
• The play ends ambiguously, with Evelyn's past still haunting her. This suggests that survival comes at a cost and that the wounds of displacement never fully heal.

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Key Moments

Opening Scene: Eva's Departure from Germany

• The play begins with nine-year-old Eva at a German train station, preparing to board the Kindertransport. Her mother, Helga, reassures her that they will be reunited soon:
  • "Only a month or two. When the silly permits are ready." – Helga
• Helga hides jewellery in Eva's shoes, symbolic of her Jewish identity and heritage.
• Eva, too young to understand the finality of the moment, does not realise she may never see her mother again.
• Significance: This scene establishes the central conflict—the painful separation of mother and daughter—and highlights Helga's false optimism to protect Eva from the full truth.

Eva Arrives in England and Meets Lil

• Eva arrives in Manchester and meets Lil, her foster mother. Lil immediately encourages Eva to assimilate, telling her to remove her Star of David.
• Eva struggles with the language barrier and is overwhelmed by her new reality. She clings to the hope that her parents will soon follow.
• Significance: This marks the beginning of Eva's transformation into Evelyn—she is forced to shed her Jewish identity to survive in England.

The Ratcatcher as a Haunting Presence

• Throughout the play, the Ratcatcher, a figure from a German fairy tale, appears in different forms, often representing fear, trauma, and displacement.
• As Evelyn recalls her past, she suddenly says to Helga:
  • "You were the Ratcatcher. Those were his eyes, his face..." – Evelyn
• This suggests that Helga, who once saved Eva by sending her away, has now become a threat, reminding Evelyn of the past she has tried to erase.
• Significance: The Ratcatcher symbolises how Eva/Evelyn can never truly escape her trauma—it follows her throughout her life.

Eva Rejects Helga

• Years later, Helga finds Eva and wants to take her to New York for a fresh start. However, Eva—now fully assimilated as Evelyn—refuses.
• She cruelly echoes Helga's own words from the beginning of the play:
  • "A month or two." – Eva (to Helga)
• Helga, heartbroken, warns Eva that denying her past will not bring her peace:
  • "Snake. Slithering out of yourself like it was an unwanted skin." – Helga
• Significance: This is the moment where Eva fully becomes Evelyn, rejecting her Jewish identity and her mother in favour of the life she has built in England.

Final Scene: Faith and Evelyn in the Attic

• In the 1980s, Faith confronts Evelyn about her hidden past. Overwhelmed, Evelyn tries to destroy old letters and photographs, symbolically erasing Eva forever.
• As the scene ends, the shadow of the Ratcatcher covers the stage, reinforcing that Evelyn can never truly escape her past.
• The final exchange:
  • "All done here then?" – Evelyn
  • "Yes, we are." – Faith
• Significance: The play ends ambiguously, showing that while Evelyn claims to be "done" with the past, it will always haunt her.

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Character Overview

Eva Schlesinger / Evelyn (Main Protagonist):

• Eva is a nine-year-old German-Jewish girl who is sent to England on the Kindertransport to escape Nazi persecution. Over time, she assimilates and becomes Evelyn, an Englishwoman in her fifties who has buried her past.

• As Eva, she is hopeful and naïve, believing her mother's promise that they will soon be reunited:

• "How long will it be before you come?" – Eva to Helga

• As Evelyn, she is rigid, anxious, and obsessed with control, repressing her Jewish identity and refusing to discuss her past:

• "I'll make it disappear. I'll get rid of him. He won't take you anywhere ever again." – Evelyn (about the Ratcatcher)

  

• Significance: Eva's transformation into Evelyn represents the psychological impact of trauma and displacement, showing how survival can come at the cost of identity.

Helga Schlesinger (Eva's Mother):

• Helga is a strong and loving mother who sends Eva to England, believing she is acting in her best interest. However, she underplays the severity of their separation, hoping to shield Eva from the trauma:

• "Only a month or two. When the silly permits are ready." – Helga

  

• When Helga returns years later, Eva—now Evelyn—rejects her. Helga bitterly responds:

  • "Snake. Slithering out of yourself like it was an unwanted skin."

• Significance: Helga represents maternal sacrifice and the impossible choices parents faced during the Holocaust. Her return forces Evelyn to confront the truth about what she lost.

Lil (Eva's Foster Mother):

• Lil is a working-class Englishwoman who takes Eva in and raises her as her own. She is practical and protective, encouraging Eva to adapt to English life:

• "You don't need to wear that thing anymore." – Lil (about Eva's Star of David)

  

• She becomes the only mother figure Evelyn acknowledges, which causes tension when Faith learns the truth about Evelyn's past.

• Significance: Lil embodies assimilation and survival, showing both the kindness of foster families and the pressure placed on refugees to erase their heritage.

Faith (Evelyn's Daughter):

• Faith is a young woman in the 1980s who accidentally uncovers her mother's hidden past. She feels betrayed that Evelyn never told her the truth:
  • "You can't go on a train without hyperventilating. You cross the road if you see a policeman or a traffic warden."
• Her confrontation forces Evelyn to relive memories she had repressed for decades.
• Significance: Faith represents the next generation grappling with inherited trauma, questioning how much of the past should be remembered or forgotten.

The Ratcatcher (Symbolic Figure):

• A sinister presence inspired by the Pied Piper of Hamelin, the Ratcatcher takes on different forms throughout the play—train guards, Nazi officers, and even Helga.
• He symbolises fear, loss, and displacement, haunting Eva/Evelyn at key moments:
  • "You were the Ratcatcher. Those were his eyes, his face…" – Evelyn (to Helga)
• Significance: The Ratcatcher represents the trauma that Evelyn can never escape, following her throughout her life as a reminder of her past.

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Literary Techniques

The play employs various dramatic techniques to reinforce its themes of identity, trauma, and survival.

Technique	Example	Effect & Analysis
Non-linear Narrative	The play shifts between Eva's past (1939-1940s) and Evelyn's present (1980s).	Highlights how trauma remains unresolved, showing how the past continues to shape the present.
Symbolism	Eva removing her Star of David and jewellery.	Represents her assimilation into English identity and the suppression of her Jewish heritage.
The Ratcatcher (Motif & Metaphor)	"You were the Ratcatcher. Those were his eyes, his face." – Evelyn to Helga	Symbolises fear, displacement, and the inescapability of trauma, appearing in different forms throughout Eva/Evelyn's life.
Repetition of Dialogue	"A month or two." – Helga to Eva (beginning) → "A month or two." – Eva to Helga (later)	Reinforces emotional betrayal and the reversal of power between mother and daughter.
Use of Shadows & Stage Directions	"The shadow of the Ratcatcher covers the stage." (Final scene)	Suggests that Evelyn's trauma will always linger, casting a permanent shadow over her life.

These techniques work together to blur the lines between past and present, reinforcing the play's exploration of memory and identity.

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General Vision and Viewpoint (GVV)

The General Vision and Viewpoint (GVV) of Kindertransport is a blend of tragedy, survival, and unresolved trauma. While the play highlights hope and resilience, it also underscores the emotional cost of survival, leaving the audience with an ambiguous and haunting conclusion.

1. Opening and Closing Scenes: A Shift in Perspective

• The opening scene presents a moment of false hope—Helga reassures Eva that their separation will be temporary:
  • "Only a month or two. When the silly permits are ready." – Helga
  • This creates an initial optimistic vision, as Eva believes she will soon reunite with her family.
• The final scene, however, contrasts sharply—Evelyn insists she is "done" with the past, yet the shadow of the Ratcatcher covers the stage, implying that trauma never truly disappears.
  • "All done here then?" – Evelyn
  • "Yes, we are." – Faith
  • This suggests that while Evelyn and Faith claim to have moved on, the past still lingers, reinforcing a dark and unresolved vision.

2. A Balance Between Hope and Suffering

• While the play acknowledges survival, it also highlights the psychological cost:
  • Optimistic elements: Eva is saved from Nazi persecution and is given a new life in England.
  • Pessimistic elements: She loses her heritage, family, and identity in the process, struggling with repressed trauma.
• Helga's sacrifice ensures Eva's physical survival but destroys their emotional connection, showing that survival is not the same as living.
  • "Snake. Slithering out of yourself like it was an unwanted skin." – Helga (accusing Evelyn of abandoning her past)

3. Key Moments That Shape the GVV

Moment	GVV Impact
Eva's departure on the Kindertransport	Initially presents a hopeful vision—Eva is being saved, but at a great emotional cost.
Eva rejecting Helga years later	A tragic shift in vision—Eva, now Evelyn, refuses to leave England, showing how time and trauma have severed their bond.
Faith discovering Evelyn's past	Adds a layer of conflict between generations, showing how trauma can affect even those who did not experience it directly.
The final shadow of the Ratcatcher	Suggests that trauma never truly fades, reinforcing a dark and unresolved vision.

4. Influence of Setting on the GVV

• Germany (1939): Depicts rising Nazi persecution, creating an atmosphere of fear and desperation.
• England (Wartime and 1980s): Offers safety but also forces Eva to assimilate and erase her past, highlighting the emotional struggles of displacement.
• The attic (1980s setting): Acts as a symbol of buried trauma, as Evelyn has hidden her past away both literally and emotionally.

Conclusion: A Vision of Survival, but at a Cost

• Kindertransport presents a bleak yet thought-provoking vision, where survival comes with emotional scars that never fully heal.
• While the play offers moments of connection and understanding, such as Faith's eventual acceptance of Evelyn's past, it ultimately leaves the audience questioning whether true closure is possible.

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Theme or Issue: Trauma and Identity

One of the most significant themes in Kindertransport is trauma and its impact on identity. The play explores how childhood trauma can shape a person's sense of self, leading to repression, assimilation, and generational conflict.

1. The Psychological Impact of Trauma

• Eva is sent away on the Kindertransport, an act that saves her life but also deeply scars her. As she grows older, she suppresses her past, becoming Evelyn, an Englishwoman who has erased her Jewish identity.
• The play explores survivor's guilt—Evelyn feels ashamed of her past and does everything she can to distance herself from it.
  • "I'll make it disappear. I'll get rid of him." – Evelyn (about the Ratcatcher, symbolising her trauma)
• The Ratcatcher serves as a haunting figure, representing how trauma is inescapable, no matter how much Evelyn tries to forget.

2. The Conflict Between Past and Present Identity

• Throughout the play, Evelyn struggles between who she was (Eva) and who she has become (Evelyn).
• Her physical rejection of her past is shown when she removes her Star of David and jewellery, symbolic of shedding her Jewish heritage:
  • "I don't want these on me anymore." – Eva (removing her jewellery)
• By adulthood, she has even emotionally severed ties with her mother, referring to Helga as "The German woman".

3. The Trauma Passed to the Next Generation

• Evelyn's daughter, Faith, represents the next generation, showing how trauma can affect those who did not experience it directly.
• Faith is shocked to discover her mother's past and struggles with the fact that Evelyn kept it hidden from her:
  • "You can't go on a train without hyperventilating. You cross the road if you see a policeman or a traffic warden." – Faith to Evelyn
• This tension highlights the difficulty of navigating inherited trauma, as Faith feels disconnected from history that Evelyn refuses to acknowledge.

4. Key Moments That Explore Trauma and Identity

Moment	How it Explores Trauma and Identity
Eva's name change to Evelyn	Shows how she suppresses her past to fit into English society.
Eva rejecting Helga	Demonstrates how trauma can cause emotional detachment from family.
Faith confronting Evelyn about her past	Highlights how trauma carries into the next generation, creating secrecy and conflict.
The Ratcatcher's final shadow over the stage	Suggests that trauma never fully disappears, even if it is repressed.

Conclusion: The Lingering Effects of Trauma

• Kindertransport shows that trauma is not something that can be erased—it shapes identity, affects relationships, and can even be passed to future generations.
• Evelyn's desperate attempt to bury her past only leads to more internal conflict and pain, proving that repression does not equal healing.

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Cultural Context

The Cultural Context of Kindertransport is shaped by war, displacement, assimilation, and generational conflict. The play explores the historical reality of the Kindertransport programme, the impact of World War II, and the challenges of cultural identity for refugees.

1. The Historical and Social Context of the Kindertransport

• The Kindertransport programme (1938-1939) was a rescue effort that brought around 10,000 Jewish children from Nazi-controlled territories to Britain. While this saved many lives, it also led to separation from families, as most parents were unable to follow.
• This historical reality is reflected in Helga's hopeful but false promise to Eva:
  • "Only a month or two. When the silly permits are ready." – Helga
• The uncertainty and fear of refugees are further emphasised when Eva asks Lil how long she will stay in England:
  • "How long before they send me back?" – Eva
• Significance: The play highlights the emotional cost of survival—the Kindertransport saved children but also forced them to assimilate into a foreign culture.

2. Jewish Identity and the Pressure to Assimilate

• Once in England, Eva faces pressure to erase her Jewish heritage to fit in:
  • Lil tells her to remove her Star of David, symbolising her forced assimilation.
  • By adulthood, Eva has fully transformed into Evelyn, rejecting her German-Jewish identity:
  • "The German woman." – Evelyn (referring to Helga)
• The play critiques British attitudes toward refugees, as seen when Eva is told she "should've stayed where she belongs"—a reflection of the discrimination Jewish refugees faced in Britain.
• Significance: The play explores the difficulty of preserving cultural identity in a society that demands assimilation and shows the psychological toll of displacement.

3. Post-War Trauma and the Silence of Survivors

• The play takes place in two different time periods: the pre-war period (1939-40s) and the 1980s, reflecting how trauma carries across generations.
• In the 1980s, Evelyn has buried her past, mirroring the way many Holocaust survivors struggled to speak about their experiences:
  • "I'll make it disappear. I'll get rid of him." – Evelyn (about the Ratcatcher, symbolising her past)
• Faith, as a member of the post-war generation, represents those who want to uncover family history but struggle to connect with parents who refuse to talk about their trauma.

4. Gender Roles and Motherhood in the Play's Cultural Context

• The play examines the role of women in war and post-war society, particularly the sacrifices of mothers.
• Helga's decision to send Eva away was not socially expected, but she insists that any good parent would have done the same:
  • "Of course they would send them away if they had places. Any good parent would do that." – Helga
• However, the play also questions whether maternal sacrifice comes at too great a cost, as Evelyn later rejects Helga entirely.
• Significance: The play suggests that, in times of crisis, women are often forced into impossible choices, and their actions can have long-term emotional consequences.

5. Key Cultural Contrasts in the Play

Cultural Aspect	Germany (1939-40s)	Britain (Wartime & 1980s)
Jewish Identity	Openly acknowledged, but under threat.	Suppressed to fit into British society.
Parental Sacrifice	Helga gives Eva away to save her.	Evelyn rejects Helga, choosing stability over family.
Attitudes Toward Refugees	Jewish people face persecution under Nazi rule.	Refugees face discrimination but are expected to assimilate.
War's Impact on Women	Women must make difficult survival choices.	Women in later generations struggle with inherited trauma.

Conclusion: The Cultural Challenges of War, Displacement, and Identity

• Kindertransport highlights the psychological and cultural struggles of refugees, showing how survival can lead to a fractured identity.
• The play critiques assimilation, generational trauma, and British attitudes toward refugees, showing that cultural displacement has lasting effects beyond the immediate crisis.
• Evelyn's rejection of Helga reflects the difficulty of reconnecting with one's past after adapting to a new cultural identity, raising questions about whether survival comes at too high a cost.