The Winged Watchman

Given the ambiguous nature of war and its associated hardships, The Winged Watchman is full of moments that muddy the waters of morality. While the author makes it a point to stress the idea that human beings are inherently fallible, the Verhagens and many Dutch citizens exemplify the bravery required to choose what is moral and correct, no matter the circumstances. This courage is most evident in their various acts of resistance against the Germans. For example, when Uncle Cor outlines Joris’s role in the plan to get Charles King to the Watchman, Mother is horrified that her son may be shot if he is caught by the Germans, but she does not forbid her son from contributing to the endeavor. Her shock and sudden silence highlight her abrupt realization that the consequences of rebellion are severe, a fact that Cor, her brother, must confront every day in his work with the Underground. Yet, at the same time, her fortitude and her family’s willingness to do what they can for the cause highlight the courage required to defy oppression. Mother herself repeatedly chooses the harder path, as when she raises Trixie as her own, provides food for starving strangers, and lies to Leendert to protect the girls.