From Sand and Ash

For Eva, music is the language of the soul, capable of expressing emotions that words cannot. Playing the violin connects Eva to her family and her Jewish heritage, symbolizing the beauty and resilience of a culture under threat. When she plays, Eva revives a part of herself that persecution cannot destroy, affirming her humanity in a world that sees her as an enemy. Felix teaches Eva that “[i]n music, there is no bondage. Music is a door, and the soul escapes through the melody” (59). Music is both a literal and symbolic form of freedom. Eva’s Jewish identity constantly puts her at risk, and the violin becomes a lifeline that helps her transcend her circumstances. Even when her body is confined or her people are persecuted, her soul can rise above oppression through the act of playing. Eva despises the performances she is forced to give for the German officers, knowing her talent is being used to entertain the very men persecuting her people. Yet she reinterprets this act as a form of rebellion, choosing to see the music not as theirs, but as her own. Each note she plays becomes a way to hold onto her identity and humanity, even in a