Jakob the Liar
...d humor alive among the Jews held in the ghetto. And so the question may be asked, how can this little fib cause the inhabitants of the ghetto to resist death and endure so much distress? “I have a radio!” exclaims Jakob to his friend, “The Russians are within twelve miles of Bezanika!” (20). And so begins the lies of Jakob, who discloses this to his friend Mischa, who is at the verge of risking his life in an attempt to steal potatoes from a freight car nearby. Soon these untruths, told primarily to prevent Mischa from jeopardizing his life, spread all over the ghetto and a sudden hope unfolds rapidly throughout. People begin to think of their futures, as does Mischa, who is swept away by a surge of hope and optimism, and thus asks for his girlfriend’s hand in marriage and starts to plan out the rest of their lives together. The impact of the news is unquestionable, for it is stated that since the news of the radio and the Russian advances, there is not a single report of a suicide within the ghetto, which were common and plentiful before the disclosure of the alleged radio. When, however, Jakob reveals to his closest friend, Kowalski, that his radio is no more than a lie told to keep faith and hope alive in the ghetto, Kowalski resorts to suicide because he is forced to realize that his liberation may not be as soon as suggested and that the struggle to survive will be far too great without some hope. Jakob's lies seem justified, as they appear to be the only thing maintaining hope in the miserable ghetto and the only thing its i...