The Wind Knows My Name

Content Warning: This guide contains descriptions of mass violence, antisemitism, genocide, discrimination, sexual assault, and hate crimes, which are depicted in The Wind Knows My Name.

“Adler was the only doctor Steiner trusted with his own family’s health, and no government decree forbidding interaction between Aryans and Jews could change the respect they had for each other. In recent months, however, Steiner had been forced to avoid Adler in public, since he couldn’t afford any trouble with the neighborhood Nazi committee. In the past, they’d played thousands of games of poker and chess, exchanged books and newspapers, and taken regular hiking and fishing trips together to escape their wives, as they said jokingly, and in Steiner’s case to flee from his horde of children. Now Adler no longer participated in the poker games in the back room of Steiner’s pharmacy. The pharmacist met Adler at the back door of his shop and provided the medication for Rachel without registering it on the books.”

Peter and Rudolph’s close relationship is crucial in establishing Peter as an ally for the Jewish community, but what stands out in this passage is the assertion that no government decree would keep the friends apart. In a way, the government does keep them apart by limiting their interactions, but this points to the question of what citizens can realistically do when the government oppresses a particular group. Steiner still provides medication for Rachel but must do so illegally, putting himself at risk instead of the Adlers. However, Steiner passes the true test of an ally: whether one is willing to accept the consequences of helping marginalized people and groups. Also important is the acknowledgment of Peter and Rudolph as similar people, both enjoying the same activities and jokingly disparaging their marriages, which paints a microcosmic picture of equality.

 “‘Papa’s not going to be able to find us when he gets home,’ said Samuel.

‘It’s only for a little while. There are some bad men in the building, but they’ll leave soon.’

‘They’re Nazis, aren’t they, Mama?’

‘Yes.’

‘Are all Nazis bad, Mama?’

‘I don’t know, son. There might be good ones and bad ones.’

‘But there are more bad ones than good ones, I think,’ the boy said.”

Based on this passage, Rachel’s efforts to hide Nazi occupation from Samuel haven’t entirely worked. He seems to understand that the Nazi agenda is violent, though Rachel assures him that the Nazi party likely has some good people. This perspective runs counter to the Nazi perspective on Jewish people, which asserts that the entire Jewish community is evil, and it shows a double-sided tolerance in which Rachel essentially tolerates intolerance.