“Find a ship that’s bound for Italy, and when you get there go North till you find a country called Denmark—you’ll be safe there.”

David’s incredible journey is outlined by “the man.” The challenges, exhaustion, and confusion David must overcome on this immense journey are alluded to. The mysterious character of “the man” is also introduced in this exchange. The determination of “the man” that David will reach refuge in Denmark alludes to this man’s love for David’s mother.

“I’d like a piece of soap.”

For David, cleaning himself after the dirtiness of the camp plays an important symbolic purpose. He has never asked the man for anything before this point; this illustrates how important becoming clean is for David. He is delighted to wash himself thoroughly in Italy, and this action makes him feel free.

“Don’t think, don’t think!”

For the three years since Johannes’s death, David has carefully schooled himself not to think. He isolates himself and limits his thoughts to his immediate surroundings and practical concerns; this allows David to survive the grief and trauma of the concentration camp. However, once David escapes, his mind is opened. He must confront his ignorance and relearn the importance of human connection, religion, self-reliance, and happiness.