[Studen’t Name]
The film Schindler’s List features the story of German named Oskar Schindler. The film was about an epic historical drama of what occurred during the tragic period in history—the World War II. However, the focus of this paper is with regards to the character of Oskar Schindler who happens to be a well-witted man who has lured the Nazi’s into believing that he was their ally while saving more Jews from the gas chamber. Nevertheless, Schindler was the typical Robin Hood. Amidst the mask of being a villain, he was in fact, a kind-hearted man. He acted treacherously by offering bribes and exhibiting a flamboyant gesture. However, he was able to manage his identity and separate his deed from his true being.
Often, his self-confidence and self-esteem has been mistaken for arrogance. Where in fact, this air of personality was a diversion to his cause of helping other people. He was empathic of the situation of the Jews. However, he was very careful at making this feeling obvious. Rather, Schindler kept guard of his actuation and allowed himself to be conscious of what other’s impression of him was. His self-concept was intact, and he did not require the validation of others to appraise himself. He was constantly self-monitoring his actions. He was lavish, and he appeared less concern about being extravagant because his cause was bigger and less mundane than making profit for his business. He used his influence and his position to help the Jews and to save them from death.
At the same time, Schindler has been able to practice the art of self-disclosure. Regardless of his association and his closeness with another person, Schindler was very careful as to who he would reveal himself and his true identity. In some ways, it can be assumed that Schindler was very good at managing what many social scientists call as reflective appraisal. This is because while the community and the Nazi’s believe that Schindler was for the Nazi’s he was, in fact, protecting the interests of the Jews more than he was showing favor for the Nazi. Nevertheless, Oskar Schindler shares this advocacy and this mission with his wife, Emilie Schindler. Emilie was Oskar’s significant other, whom the later identifies himself with without fear of being judged and refuted.
While there was so much that society has expected of Schindler, he was able to maintain his sense of identity and refuses to fall prey into the clutches of social pressure and social expectations. A strong sense of self was what kept Oskar Schindler from turning his back to his mission of saving the Jews during the most difficult and the most trying times. A perceived self is what grounded Schindler into staying true to his advocacy despite the opportunity presenting itself to be more secure and more stable for him, his family and his business.
Bibliography
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