Andorra
General points
Witness testimonies can easily represent authorial choices that are specific to the genre. When the character is breaking the fourth wall, it makes it more realistic and helps the reader understand the characterâs thoughts and intentions. This narrative device is important to follow the plot details and flashing forward
The way this theme is examined is through the changes in Andorransâ actions and mindsets towards other people because they are creating a false image, which forces others to suffer. Also, the same projects to Andorrans because they also assume facts about themselves and pretend to be them without actually being true.
Scene 1
What is the literal reason why Barblin is whitewashing her father's house, and what might be the symbolic significance of doing this? What does the colour white mean? Please answer all three parts of this question.
Barblin whitewashes the house because there is a catholic holiday coming (St Georgie's Day) (p. 5). However, it might symbolize that painting the house white makes it look innocent and virgin. As if there is only one clear and pure side of the house that does not have any flaws or drawbacks. (p. 6)
It is foreshadowing the fact that despite pretending to be âgoodâ and innocent, they are only pretending. They are not innocent.
How are the soldiers behaving? What does this tell you about the status of the army in this fictional "Andorran" society?
The soldier behaves as if he is the centre of the universe. He wants to rape Barblin, does whatever he wants, says whatever he wants, and shows how selfish he is even though he does nothing helpful to society. It shows s that the Andorran society thinks that the military is their main pride, despite being useless and harmful to the citizens. (p.6-7)
For him, it is a casual event that to rape a woman. He is designed to be the most despicable character in the book. The soldier has none of the redeeming qualities. And the army is in the middle of everyoneâs attention because Andorrans are proud of their army.
What are the first things Andri and the carpenter do as they appear? Can you relate this to any antisemitic stereotypes?
Carpenter tells the teacher that Andri can not become a carpenter because he is a Jew. He also uses a tone of phrases like âyou know what I meanâ, which demonstrates that there is no reasoning behind it. He is antisemitic and thinks that Jews must do âdirty jobsâ. Moreover, Andri acts the polar opposite of the stereotypes. For instance, as soon as he gets some money, he drops it in the jukebox. (p. 6-8)
The carpenter appears on stage, and he has to tip Andri. However, it is the carpenter who is stingy and greedy because he doesnât want to give him a tip, while Andri puts money in the jukebox immediately.
Andorrans think that Jews are like machines: they donât have feelings, and everything they do is their dirty job of calculating. Andri likes music and always dances. He seems to be the most poetic character in the poem.
"A lot of women have told me that, but I've had them just the same if I liked their legs and their hair [...] Where is your room?" (p. 6) - What do you make of this statement?
The soldier wants to rape Barblin, and it is not the first time he is attempting to rape someone.
The soldier is threatening to rape her to assert his dominance.
What is the first thing we learn about Barblin's father, from the priest's utterances?
Despite being a teacher, he spends much time in the inn drinking and spreading rumours. (p.7)
He is a teacher. When he drinks, he starts to curse and forget who he is.
When the priest talks about Barblinâs father, he doesnât say that the teacher is wrong. âHe is wrongâ and âStop rocking the boatâ are different points.
The soldier convinces that there is a thread to convince everyone that he is a significant person in Andorra.
Persepolis: Arabs can invade, book readers are dangerous, and black can invade.
Who is the "Somebody"?
It is not clear from the story, but it seems to be a narrator speaking and foreshadowing future events. He shows the position of an average citizen, which makes his name pointless for the narration. However, he is predicting certain events, like a âstormâ. (p. 8-9)
He is the anonymous voice of the crowd.
What do the teacher and the carpenter argue about? What is your impression of this conversation?
The teacher pays for Andriâs apprenticeship, but the Carpenter charges too much (50) and says he cannot do this job because he is a Jew.
Carpenter charges too much on purpose to make the teacher unable to pay. He makes up a way to prevent Andri from getting his apprenticeship, so he tries to hide it at a very high price.
What is the significance of the stake the teacher claims to see?
The Jews are supposed to be murdered at the stake in this society. So, Andriâs father sees a stake as a delusion that his son will be touched. (p.10)
The significance of the stake is how you kill Jews. The stake symbolises murdering the Jews, but it does not directly refer to the gas chamber. Max Frisch draws a similarity to totalitarianism and how certain groups of people are segregated.
The innkeeper explains his opinion of Andri on page 11. What does he say? What do you make of this?
He thinks there is nothing that the teacher can do with anyone in society that would change something drastically. It causes him a tone of problems and arguments with everyone around him. However, the innkeeper is a part of this society and is also antisemitic. He says, âthe Andorrans are easy-going people, but as Iâve always said when itâs a question of money, they are like Jews. (p. 11)
He clearly states that he wants to seem not antisemitic, but he makes it look awkward for a reader by highlighting all the stereotypes that âhe doesnât follow all the stereotypesâ. Also, he always tries to say that he is not antisemitic, but then he literarily states that by stating that Andri is the exception.
Comment on the language used by Andri during his short soliloquy at the bottom of page 13.
He is obsessed with becoming a carpenter and sees himself as happy. Andri is ready to throw away his apron, which symbolizes that he is ready to take a step forward. It also seems that he doesnât truly believe what he is saying, as if he is half-dreaming.
He uses poetic and metaphorical language.
Throwing the hat with a name is a celebration, but it implies that he is happy with who he is. He thinks he will get a job, then money, then marriage, and so on.
It is everyone else who is putting stereotypes about him, while Andri understands what he is doing and who he is.
What do we learn from the Innkeeper's witness testimony at the end of this scene?
Despite everyone trying to show that they are âwhiteâ and innocent, it turned out that Andorran society ruined Andriâs life. Everyone believed in the story that the teacher saved a Jew, and everyone was prejudiced toward the kid because he was a Jew. They made assumptions based on their beliefs but not on how Andri acted. (p. 17-18)
Scene 2
Scene Two consists of Barblin making romantic advances towards Andri and Andri not responding as she wishes him to. Why doesn't he?
He is thinking of how others are looking at him. He can not find any distinctions from the Andorrans, but everyone else sees him as cursed and different from their nation. It ruins his mood and disturbs him from Barblin (p. 19-20)
He also thinks that he is ungrateful toward the teacher. As a refugee, you are expected to be grateful and respectful. And Andri is talking about how the gratitude expected from him has become a part of his identity. But everyone, including Andri, thinks he is a Jew; it is a part of his identity to be grateful to everyone, which bonds with every other prejudice that Andorrans have.
Andri does not respond to Barblinâs advances because he is so preoccupied with his identity. Because he thinks he owes his life to a teacher, he thinks he canât be engaged with Barblin without asking permission. No one cares about his true identity; this is how the stereotypes are bonded to Andriâs brain and life. It makes him keep up with the prejudice and forces him to change his mindset.
Comment on the carpenter's witness testimony at the end of Scene Two.
He admits that he is antisemitic. He says that he didnât want âpeople of that kindâ to be a carpenter and that the salesman job would better fit them ânaturallyâ. The carpenter says that he was not the reason for Andriâs crisis, stating that Andriâs nationality ruined his image. (p. 21)
âItâs not my faultâ shows that everyone does not see any consequences of their actions. He doesnât admit that he is antisemitic, and he causes changes in Andri. All of them were in a position to change Andorrans' attitude toward Andri, but no one did it. Everyone was keeping the prejudice and strengthening it.
Scene 3
Why does the journeyman tell Andri not to rub his hands together?
It is a stereotype that every Jew is rubbing their hands. Andri has a habit of rubbing his hands for no particular reason, and he is supposed to be on a soccer team. The Journeyman told him not to rub his hands so no one would laugh at him. The problem is that only antisemitic people would laugh at a Jew rubbing his hands.
What is starting here is that Andri starts to watch himself and project the stereotypes onto him. Also, it is one of the turning points when Carpenter fails Andri, and his friends lie to him to save his image.
The play very often eludes these stereotypes and does not show them directly.
Unlike Frederick Douglass, all the references to the antisemitic communities and political issues are relatively vague and unclear, while Frederick Douglass points out all the issues.
Carpenter: âAndri, if only you had the guts -â (p. 22) What does the carpenter mean?
He just pretends that every single bad thing that he finds was done by Andri just because he is a Jew. He doesnât even try to find the truth; he assumes everything.
How does Andri end up failing the apprenticeship test?
He made a proper chair, but the Carpenter failed him on purpose. He takes the bad chair made by Journeyman and pretends that it is Andriâs chair. Likewise, he breaks it and screams at the last to convince Andri that being a carpenter is not his destiny. (p. 23-24)
It smells like smoke in the workshop. So the Carpenter thinks that Andri causes all the troubles. But the phrase refers to the fact that Andri can admit it, but he didn't do it because he is a coward. Both the carpenter and the journeyman are cowards. The stereotypes are just projected on him, despite Andri not being like this. Eventually, he believes that he is a Jew and starts acting like a Jew.
What does the carpenter offer Andri after he âfailsâ the test? Why?
Carpenter assumes that Andri would be better at taking and registering orders than at being a carpenter. It happens because of the antisemitic stereotype that Jews are better at dealing with money. (p. 25)
The carpenter has a standard everyone must match because of the reputation. As a test, Andri has to make a chair, and Journeyman makes a bad chair. The carpenter takes the last one and rips it. Andri tries to prove that the proper chair is the one he made, but the Journeyman lies about it. (p. 23-25)
The Journeyman is pretending to be his friend, and Carpenter thinks Andri is a coward because he smoked in the workshop. Then Andri wises his way out of the conversation so he doesnât get into trouble. Andri gets blamed for the otherâs mistake, which makes it extremely unfair towards Andri.
What typical anti-semitic stereotype is there in the journeyman's witness testimony?
A journeyman is treating Andri as the second sort of person. Despite admitting that his chair got Andri in trouble, he thinks that it is Andriâs fault because he was acting rude to him. The journeyman is rude to Andri when he states that he finally allowed him to play in a team, even though it must be his basic right: why would you not test a player if he is good? His gender, race or any other characteristic should not matter. (p. 26)
The stereotype is that the reason for antisemitism is Jewâs existence. Then he stabs him in the back twice on the same day, which is why Andri is angry and mad at him. However, the Journeyman is saying that it was not his fault; it is Andri who is always acting in a certain way.
It is also constructed in a way to show how everything is blamed on a Jew, despite the blood was not related to the problem anyhow.
Scene 4
Why do you think the doctor makes Andri say âAndorraâ while examining him?
It is a very dumb way to show patriotism. Usually, people are proud of their nationality if they donât have anything else to be proud of. (p. 27)
It shows that Doctor is patriotic and does not have anything beyond that.
What story does the doctor tell about Andri's father? What does this tell us about the father?
The doctor tells Andri about his father, that hated school books because they were fooling and wrong. He was giving his knowledge, and no one understood his motives. (p. 27)
He wanted new school books, but he didnât get them. So, he made everyone underline and rip the pages with the wrong information. It shows that the Teacher is trying to convey the truth and show the reality, but he wasnât brave enough to tell Andri and everyone else the truth from the beginning.
Also, because of that, everyone in Andorra perceives the teacher as a bad guy but not a wise guy.
The doctor makes some claims about his life and his choice to work in Andorra, but what he says about Jews later contradicts this. Explain.
He says that all Andorrans are treated and valued equally, no matter what. Later, he starts talking about Jews and states that they are greedy, ungrateful and selfish. It contradicts the previous statement because there is a Jew who lives in Andorra, and he is not treated equally well. (p. 29)
Initially, he claims he chose to stay in Andorra because he owed something to the motherland. And then, he starts renting that Jews occupy all the important positions. Therefore, the doctor wanted to have a job in another country, but he lost his job to a Jew person. It also ties in with the stereotype that Jews are running the world.
At the scene's beginning, the doctor notes that he is a professor but not a doctor. He got his title but didnât get the job because of the Jew. So, he complains about Jews.
What is the doctor's reaction when Andri's mother tells him Andri is a Jew? Does this remind you of anything you have heard or read recently?
He is surprised by this fact and tries apologising, yet his attitude changes, and he starts to speak about him like an animal. âI even chatted with himâ (p. 29)
The doctor reacts in a usual antisemitic reaction by covering up everything with a "joke". This is typical when someone has said something discriminating but doesnât want to take up for their actions.
He immediately contradicts himself once again.
What is your impression of the teacher in this scene?
He is trying to protect Adri from antisemitic stereotypes by saying he has to be better than that and not follow othersâ dirty minds. He acts like a true father in this scene until Andri says about engagement. After that, he gets scared and doesnât find the courage, to tell the truth, which would be the best time to explain everything and make Andriâs origins clear for him and everyone else. Instead, he spoils the evening for the family and goes to the inn. (p. 29-34)
The teacher does two things: he kicks the doctor out of the house, but then he doesnât tell Andri that he is not a Jew. It is his fault that Andri is treated like this. He has this strong emotional reaction because he is why all these problems occurred.
Scene 5
â...but a lie is like a leech, it sucks the truth dry.â (p.35) What does the teacher mean by this?
Everything will eventually come out and have its consequences.
If you keep repeating the same lie repeatedly, it is too late. By lying, you are taking something away.
What is Somebody announcing in scene five?
He says that the Blacks are threatening to invade again. Also, he tries to warn the teacher that his actions might not end well. (p. 35)
Somebodyâs purpose is to foreshadow the events that are going to happen.
Scene 6
What is the plan Andri is talking about on page 37, and what does it have to do with hate?
Andri wants to save money and leave Andorra with Barblin and marry her. But it all started with the fact that everyone was so superstitious and prejudiced toward him that it caused hatred. Andri started to hate people, so he wanted to prove to all the Andorrans that he was worth something. (p. 37)
The point is the only person who cares about him is Barblin, and he hates everyone else.
What is it that makes Andri laugh on page 37?
He notices that he is always counting money as a stereotypical Jew. Everyone points it out but does not understand that he is counting it for a good reason, not because he is greedy. This means that it looks like he is greedy, despite not being so, which makes him laugh.
He always harps about the jukebox because it symbolises his true personality and nature. When he stops throwing coins inside the jukebox, it shows that he starts to believe in prejudice and alludes to the antisemitic stereotypes.
In scene six, Andri is disgusted by his father's drunkenness but also says he has lost respect for him. Why?
He thought that the teacher understood him. He called Andri âsonâ, which convinced Andri that he was treated properly without antisemitism. However, it changes when the teacher refuses to engage Andri and Barblin. Andri thinks that he had mistaken all the time, and even the teacher is antisemitic, which makes him lose all his respect for the teacher. (p. 39)
He says he respected the teacher not because he saved his life but because he was not prejudiced like others. He didnât ask to rescue him. And now, when the teacher refuses to help them get engaged, he thinks the teacher is the same as others. It is the teachers' fault because it would remove this problem from scratch.
Comment on Andri's last utterance on page 39.
He accepts that everyone thinks of Andri as a stereotypical Jew. He sarcastically tells the teacher about it in utterance by saying the most common questions he is asked as the accountant at the carpenters.
Andri mimics the stereotypical behaviour of a Jew, which shows that he believes in these stereotypes because he is disgusted with who everyone wants him to be.
Who bolts Barblin's door in scene six?
Soldier, because he was raping Barblin. (p. 40)
Why is it significant that scene six contains this exchange between Andri and his father and the rape of Barblin by the soldier, which Andri mistakes for consensual sex?
Andri relied on 2 people: the teacher, who supported him and did not expect him to act like a Jew all the time, and Barblin, who loved him. Both of them âbetrayâ him in this scene: Andri screams at the teacher for being antisemitic and assumes that Barblin had consensual sex with the soldier.
It is a build-up to something potentially worse (the climax). All these horrible things are happening simultaneously, which will be a turning point for Andri.
Andri is jealous of Soldier because he wants to be like him. He is afraid that the Soldier is seen as a real man while he is not. And the reason for him being Jealous is that Barblin will pick the Soldier over him because he is a man, while Andri is just a Jew. In that scene, his worst fear comes true. At the same time, he sees the Teacher as a cowardly drunk man, so he doesnât respect him anymore. It results in destroying his identity and mental image.
Comment on the Soldier's witness testimony.
He tries to admit that he did not know that Andri was not a Jew, but then he also excuses it by saying it was his duty. He had to act like this and carry out the orders just because he was a soldier. (p. 41)
It is a typical statement, including that he didnât like Andri, that he didnât do it, that he gets orders, and because he is a soldier, he needs to fulfil his orders. This is a typical reaction from a soldier in Andorra, where they think highly of themselves because they are a "soldier."
âI was just following ordersâ - classical excuse. Everyone who has committed crimes uses it. Similarly to 451, people like Mildred are just following the rules. The problem is that everyone is saying itâs not my fault, and no one knows whose fault it is.
Scene 7
Why do you think Andri does not want to sit down?
Now, when he lost hope in everyone in Andorra, he doesnât want to listen to anyone because he hates them (p. 41)
He complains that everyone always touches him. So, it is connected to the fact that back then, when he was a little refugee child, when he grew up, they changed their attitude.
Also, Andri is done with everyone being bossy with him.
Also, it is a form of rebellion.
The priest means well, but he fails. Comment on his responses to Andri on page 42.
He tries to guide the conversation by stating that it is not Andri who has certain characteristics but answers around the topic. He also insists on the fact that Andri has to come down. (p.43)
The big difference is that the Priest admits it was his fault, but he still makes mistakes. He says he is smarter than others and likes this in him, but Andri wants to be average. And then he says that all the Jews can not help themselves.
On page 43, the priest tells Andri he's cleverer than the others. How does Andri react?
Andri thinks it is another way to show the racist stereotype that Jews are more clever than others. He wants the Priest to take his words back, even though the Priest didnât mean to offend him.
He does not want to be different from others. He wants to be like a normal Andorran and be watched by people.
Page 44; âHaven't you any other idea in your head?...â What anti-semitic stereotype is the priest bringing up here?
That Jews can think of only one thing, and it's money. It might also refer to the fact that stereotypically all Jews blame others all the time instead of trying to find the actual reasons for their issues.
The priest is reacting to the fact that Andri thinks everyone hates him because he is a Jew and nothing else. As far as Andri is concerned, the only reason Andri is not allowed to engage with Barblin is that he is a Jew. He complains about the fact that everyone else is antisemitic. The priest is trying to help Andri, but he perceives everything through the antisemitic stereotypes.
What is it that Andri does not want to tell the Priest?
Pider raped that Barblin. (p.44-45)
He thinks that Barblin cheated on him with Pider. Barblin cheating with a soldier is his worst nightmare, so he tries to forget or not accept it.
Comment on what the priest says on page 45.
The Priest tries to help Andri by saying he has no control over his skin colour. He doesnât need to focus on that and follow the stereotypes that are associated with it. He should try to accept himself like he is and start to love himself, and eventually, everyone will do it. (p. 45)
The Priest thinks Andri is smarter than everyone else but wants to be like everyone else. He is just saying that, as a Jew, he is smarter than everyone else by default. He also claims that Andri has specific characteristics which Andri doesnât have.
Comment on the Priest's witness testimony. How is it different from the others?
He is the only one who admits that he is guilty of what happened to Andri. He honestly admits it and doesnât blame it on Andri (p. 46)
The Priest is quoting the ten commandments. One of them is not to project prejudice on other people, but everyone does this by making a fake image of Andri. The priest starts sentences with the exact words (anaphora).
Scene 8
The Doctor does not believe Andorra will be attacked. Why not?
He thinks Andorrans are the best-treated nation in the world, so no one will ever invade them because they are so nice and peaceful, and everyone loves them. (p. 46-47)
How does Somebody contribute to the conversation throughout scene eight?
He says that the first should go last and the other way around. Supposedly, he points out that the Soldier who claims to fight till the last man must go first in front of everyone. (p. 46)
He also points out that they are talking about nothing by noticing their grammar mistake during the conversation. (p. 48)
The reason why he laughs is that he pretends to be innocent while correctly foreshadowing future events.
What does the Soldier say will happen if Andorra is attacked?
He says that there will be bloody murder.
(Page 47): âLet them come; theyâll get the shock of their lives...â
That it's disgusting that Andorra might get attacked, and he will be the last man standing when they attack Andorra because he wants to fight for his people.
Why does the Innkeeper think he needs to explain himself? What allusion to the bible does he make?
I donât know, but itâs at the bottom of page 48
âI should be the first to throw the stoneâ - refers to the New Testament where the man wants to stone a woman to death because she is a whore, then Jesus shows up and tells them that they are allowed to throw the stone only if they are innocent. This passage means that no one is allowed to throw stones unless they are perfect. The Innkeeper claims to be perfect, so he can throw a stone. Also, it is a reference to the fact that Andorrans think that they are friendly. (p. 48)
Why does Andri lose the fight with the Soldier in scene eight?
Because others intervene in a fight, Andri gets beaten by five people (p. 52)
The Soldier, who is supposed to be brave and strong, gets beaten by Andri before others help him. It shows that Andi is not a coward, while the Soldier is. Then Senior stops the fight.
The Doctor recites another well-known anti-semitic stereotype at the end of scene eight. What is it?
He says that every Jew is waiting for some injustice, so they always ask everyone to prove the opposite. (p. 54)
Jews are trying to play the victim, waiting for everyone to do injustice and make something bad.
Who is Señora, and how does she explain the Teacher's actions?
Señora is Andriâs mother. She is annoyed by the fact that the Teacher told everyone that Andri is a Jew, and explains it with the Teacher being a coward and trying to save his image as âwhiteâ and innocent Andorran (p. 54-55)
Scene 9
The Señora gives a vague explanation of her life. What does she say?
She says her father was murdered, so everything she knew was violence. Yet, she wanted to improve and step over it, which meant being fair and never lying. However, this rule didnât last long, and everything went back as it was, referring to the teacher leaving her and lying to everyone in Andorra. (p. 56 -57)
She is talking about is that there was a brief period when there was a revolutionary movement. Thatâs why she has a spirit of freedom.
Everyone perceives that people behind the border are all fascists, and as the only person from a foreign country, everyone is different, and the stereotype is not true.
What is the mother's view of the teacher's life now that she knows the truth?
She accepts that he loves Seniora, but she points out that he is a coward and it is his fault for all the troubles that Andri has right now. He is why Andri is perceived as a Jew, and he must stop it. (p. 58)
The teacher always acts like he is different from everyone else but is the same as Andorrans. He marries an Andorran woman to look more innocent.
In many ways, the mother as Somebody is trying to protect the family and support other characters. She is telling the truth to the Teacher by pointing out what was his mistake and saying that he has to talk to Andri. She also shows that the Teacherâs image of the truth-teller is just an image, and he is not honest.
Andri uses another poetic metaphor on page 59. What is it, and what does it mean?
âEveryone is behaving today like puppets when the strings are tangledâ. It means that everyone starts to run around pointlessly, not knowing what to do when the situation becomes out of control.
Everyone usually acts like the puppeteer is controlling them, and when the strings are tangled, they are lost and have no idea what to do.
The stereotype is that the Jews are heartless and donât have any feelings. No one in the play uses poetic language except Andri, which makes him look more romantic and (feelings having - or whatever is the right word) than everyone else.
Page 60, Andri: âI didn't mean to tell anyone that.â Why is this significant?
As a Jew, Andorrans want Andri to act respectfully, so when he contradicts it by fighting the soldier, Andri thinks that the Priest must punish him. At the same time, under emotions, he tells the Pries that it was a pleasure to do it, and this situation helped him, but then he realised that he might be punished for saying this.
He is upset, so he tells the Priest everything he wants to do. Andri is getting emotional and telling him more than he should. This makes him look more alive than Andorrans, who never show any feelings or emotions.
Comment on Andri's speeches on pages 61-62.
Because everyone was prejudiced toward him, he didnât know who he was and how he should act. After a while, he started to adapt his actions to what everyone was saying, so he accepted that he was a Jew and he must act like a stereotypical Jew in every single case, no matter what he felt and how he felt because his blood would guide him.
Stereotype - Jews donât have a country.
How was Señora killed? What is the symbolic significance of this?
The innkeeper, most likely, threw a stone at her head and then blamed Andri. It symbolises the fact the Andorrans are true cowards, but not the Jews on who they blame all their problems. (p. 63)
In his testimony, he claimed to be the first one to throw the stone, and he did it. His actions portrayed Andorran more accurately and precisely than their words.
Comment on Somebody's witness testimony.
He is the only one who doesnât lie and tries to be objective. He admits that he canât say who threw the stone and that Andri wasnât acting like a Jew because he was throwing all his tips in the jukebox. (p. 63)
He ends his testimony with, âwe must be allowed to forgetâ. He wants to forget the entire situation with Andri as if it never happened.
He is also trying to be vague and shift the blame on everyone by saying that he wasnât the one who threw the stone, he didnât cave and kill Andri, and so on.
Scene 10
What happens between scenes nine and ten? How does this become clear?
The blacks invaded Andorra. It becomes clear when Andri is hiding behind the fence and says that there is not a soul outside, and the Teacher says that blacks are here. (p. 64)
Everyone is hiding in their houses, holding their rifles. They surrender as soon as they can.
How does Andri react to the situation?
He hides from everyone because he will likely die as soon as someone sees him.
He doesn't want to live anymore. The only thing that he gets upset about is Senioraâs ring. He gives up, not knowing why he would live.
Page 66, Andri: âA point comes when everyone realizes how many things he never really believed. That's why they're walking about in that strange way. Like men who have been lying.â What does Andri mean?
All Andorrans surrender without putting up a fight despite claiming to fight âfor the last man standingâ. Andri claims that Andorrans talk a lot but never actually think so. They pretend to look a certain way without actually being ideal and white. (p. 66)
He shows the problem with self-image. Andorrans believe in one thing and do the opposite.
Page 66, Andri: âThey simply can't wait.â/Teacher: âWhere did they get the flags from?â/Andri: âAll they need now is a scapegoat.â Comment on this exchange.
Andorrans need someone to blame for the invasion. They were the ones who surrendered, but they still wanted to pretend that it was not their fault.
The teacher is asking questions, while Andri already knows what will happen. He expects the fact that he will be murdered as a scapegoat. Yet another foreshadowing that was clear from the start of the play, and now, even Andri understands it, so he doesnât care about his life anymore.
In Fahrenheit 451, everything is commonly described using metaphors involving nature. It shows that nature is missing from society and how technology has replaced it. Symbolically, Montage comes to the forest at the novel's end, where he finally finds freedom and happiness.
In Frederick Douglass, he uses a lot of oratory style, which makes the entire text persuasive that helps to convey the points.
In Persepolis, the illustrations value more due to the lack of language. Marji uses less detailed panels to make it more general and appealing to the major part of the audience. Therefore, the art style corresponds with the age: everything is minimal and childish when the storytelling comes from a child.
In Andorra, strong foreshadowing creates a tragic effect and shows how dramatically the play conveys the main point of antisemitism.
The black flags represent Andorrans' enemies, but almost everyone had a black flag as soon as they invaded. It is implied that Andorrans stored the black flags waiting for the invasion.
On page 67, how does Andri express that he is resigned to his fate by saying that he is beyond help?
By claiming that he is beyond help, he shows that everyone convinced him to be a Jew no matter what, so no, he will act like a stereotypical Jew no matter what others will say.
Andri has a fatalistic attitude because he knows he will surely be murdered like any other Jew. As a result, he doesnât care about anything happening around him.
Comment on the soldier's actions on page 68.
He joined the blacks and now helping them to invade Andorra. Despite being a soldier, he was the first person to betray the country, and everything he claimed about patriotism before was just a piece of rubbish.
He is bossing around as if nothing has ever happened. âOrders are ordersâ, - but he probably shouldnât take the enemyâs orders. Also, he is repeating the enemy propaganda, which shows that the Soldiers and entire Andorra surrendered to the blacks as if they had no dignity. As soon as Andorrans understand that everything they need to do is surrender to save their lives, they instantly do it.
Scene 11
How does Andri describe the soldier? What is the significance of this?
He thinks of him as an example of what a man should look like. It shows that Andri was scared of the fact that he is not perceived as a person and a man by others in general, and Barblin in particular. (p. 69)
In the scene where Andri is sitting in front of Barblinâs chamber, he loses faith in the Teacher, and then he sees a Soldier coming out of Barblinâs room. Andri thinks of the Soldier as a real man, better than him.
Barblin does not tell Andri what happened when the soldier broke into her room, but what else is she trying to do in this scene?
They are related as siblings, as she found out, so she tries to protect Andri and hide him in her room.
She tries to save him from the worst outcome but wants to establish a relationship. Conversely, Andri doesnât care and wants to find out how it feels to be with a real man because he thinks of the Soldier as an idealistic model of a man.
The most rational characters are women. Barblin is the only one who is risking her life to save Andri. Everyone else is just following the enemyâs rules that they accepted instantly.
In addition, unlike Andri, she accepts the fact that they are siblings, and she starts to act accordingly.
Andri does not believe that he is Barblin's brother, so what does he think is why she no longer wants to be intimate with him?
Barblin doesnât want to do it because Andri is her brother, but because he doesnât believe in it, he thinks that Barblin is attracted to the Soldier, who is a real man, unlike him. (p. 70-71)
As Andri thinks he is not a man, the Soldier is perceived as a better option.
Why does Andri tell Barblin to âthink of [her] hairâ on page 72?
It is a shame to be related to the Jew, so her hair must be shaved. Thatâs why Andri tells her to think of her hair, so she doesnât lose it.
It is a common element of racism that the woman is punished for being with a segregated man.
Comment on the Doctor's testimony at the end of this scene.
He collects all the antisemitic stereotypes by claiming that it wasnât his fault; it was Andri who acted like a Jew, the Doctor himself and other Andorrans were mistaken, but they didnât do anything, and so on. He tries to convince himself that he is white and innocent Andorran. (p. 73)
The doctor says he will keep it brief but goes on and on about what happened. He states that he was personally mistaken at the time and cannot do anything about it now. He says that he was at fault for his behaviour and that he repeats that he regrated the things he did in that place and time.
Scene 12
Comment on the way the Doctor behaves in this scene.
He is convincing everyone to stay calm as the true Andorrans will remain Andorrans, and everyone else will be kicked out of the country. Also, he is pretty confident in the Jew inspection accuracy, no matter what everyone says.
The doctor commands and narrates everything and instructs the Andorrans on what to do. He also described everything in detail for the reader to understand and guided the reader through the process.
Who do you think really killed Señora?
The innkeeper explains every detail and becomes extremely defensive when the Doctor suspects him. (p. 75)
What is Barblin doing throughout this scene?
She is going to everyone and trying to talk to them. She likely wants to say something about Andri to protect him, but no one listens.
All the characters are transformed into âmasked figuresâ in this scene. What is the effect of this?
No one sees anyone else, and no one sees them. It makes everyone look identical, symbolically representing that there should be no stereotypes. (p. 77)
What are the masked figures mostly talking about on page 78?
They are talking about the instructions they are supposed to follow. These instructions were written on a piece of yellow poster, which shows that all Andorrans are ready to blindly follow the text that is written on some random paper.
On page 80, the Soldier reads what appears to be a description of the âJew Inspectionâ; why is it significant that the Soldier is reading this, and what do you make of this description?
The Soldier is the main villain for Andri, who took his girlfriend away. The paper says that the Jew inspection is a source of protection restoring, which intends the stereotype that foreigners bring chaos and disorder to the country.
Who do the shoes on page 83 belong to?
It must be Andriâs shoes because the Doctor doesnât want to take them, and only one pair is left after Andri is taken away. (p. 87)
Why is it significant that Somebody is almost mistaken for a Jew?
As somebody is nameless, he can be anyone: both a Jew and an Andorran. Hence, making him the suspect shows that the entire procedure does not make any sense and doesnât show anything. (p. 84)
How, apparently, does the Jew Detector do his job?
He checks the way people walk and their outlook. Once again, it does not make any sense and doesnât show anything about the nation or where the person belongs to. Moreover, he does it lamely and slowly while showing off his importance.
How do the Andorrans react to Andri being taken away by the Black soldiers?
They act as if it is fine and nothing special has happened. It is also shown when everyone goes back to their normal routine after the Jew Inspection is over. (p. 87)
Why has Barblin's head been shaved at the end of this scene?
It is a shame to have any relation to the Jew, and to demonstrate it; her hair is shaved off. (p. 87)
Barblin has lost her mind at the end, but are her utterances really âcrazyâ?
She is saying that she should whitewash the Andorrans, not Andorra. Despite being out of her mind, she points out that Andorrans are not as innocent as they claim to be. They are why so many crimes are happening, like the one with Andri. (p. 88-89)
What is the âbusiness with the fingerâ?
The jewellery is commonly worn on fingers, and it's almost quite commonly stolen. So, I guess it refers to stealing the jewellery
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