One of the ideas central to In Our Midst is family love and loyalty. In what ways do members of the Aust family make sacrifices for one another?
The most significant examples of family sacrifices was Nina’s decision to go into the interment camp to be with her family, and Otto’s decision to be deported with Kurt.
I also think Nina’s decision to enter the interment camp was most significant because it gave that chance to provide emotional support to one another and perhaps hope that they can exist as a family no matter where they live. And Otto wanted to be there for Kurt.
I appreciated the love the family members had for one another. Nina knew that if she did not go to the internment camp, the others could not go and be reunited. She needed to give up her freedom for the love of her sons and husband.
Otto looks after Kurt at the camp and makes a decision to be deported with him. Yikes, that would have been a tough decision.
But there were also small actions, of the boys and her husband doing for Nina at the camp and in turn her doing things to make their life better. Sometimes that included not telling everything she knew.
Nina made the ultimate sacrifice for her family. She gave up everything to endure the same cruel conditions as her family. The true test of marriage vows and motherhood.