Débora Paias
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
This question contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[Hi Ruta! I finished "Salt to the Sea" this weekend and I don't know if I'll ever recover from it. The characters will stuck with me forever. I have to ask: Did Florian meet his sister again? And Joana? Did she found her mother? Also, I was reading some reviews on internet, and I was a little shocked that some people think of Albert as a villain. For me, he was just naïve and a victim too. What do you think about him? (hide spoiler)]
Ruta Sepetys
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[Hello Debora!
I'm so thrilled that you enjoyed "Salt to the Sea." Thank you!
Yes, I'm imagining that Florian reunites with his sister and that Joana does find her mother.
In order to create the character of Alfred, I studied Adolf Hitler as a youth. Hitler wrote lengthy letters to a girl but never mailed them, he had a difficult relationship with his father. Hitler also had a fascination with hands so I included that via a manifestation on Alfred's hands.
For me, Alfred was also a study of visibility. He was rejected and invisible for much of his youth, but when Alfred put on a uniform he suddenly became/felt visible (even if only in his own mind) and that visibility then mutated into a sense of power. Alfred felt that he was superior and entitled to possess beautiful, innocent things - like the butterflies pinned to his closet wall - and Hannelore. I wanted to pose the exact question that you asked: was Alfred a victim or a villain? He could be interpreted as either.
So grateful you would ask!
(hide spoiler)]
I'm so thrilled that you enjoyed "Salt to the Sea." Thank you!
Yes, I'm imagining that Florian reunites with his sister and that Joana does find her mother.
In order to create the character of Alfred, I studied Adolf Hitler as a youth. Hitler wrote lengthy letters to a girl but never mailed them, he had a difficult relationship with his father. Hitler also had a fascination with hands so I included that via a manifestation on Alfred's hands.
For me, Alfred was also a study of visibility. He was rejected and invisible for much of his youth, but when Alfred put on a uniform he suddenly became/felt visible (even if only in his own mind) and that visibility then mutated into a sense of power. Alfred felt that he was superior and entitled to possess beautiful, innocent things - like the butterflies pinned to his closet wall - and Hannelore. I wanted to pose the exact question that you asked: was Alfred a victim or a villain? He could be interpreted as either.
So grateful you would ask!
(hide spoiler)]
More Answered Questions
Alvina
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
Hi Ruta! I read all your books and Salt to The Sea is my favorite. I wonder why you make the main character related with Lina in Between Shades of Gray? Is there any spesific reason? Would you make the character in your next book related with character in your other book again?
Olivia
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
I read "Salt to the Sea" as part of tumblr's Reblog Book Club. As you might have seen, there was a lot of discussion about the character of Alfred. What are your personal thoughts/feelings about him? I for one found him interesting--and deeply unsettling--and could clearly see why someone like him would be drawn to the Nazi party.
Ruta Sepetys
25,091 followers
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