Winter

Winter, in the novel, symbolizes a time period in which everyone is in greater danger than ever before.

Being the middle of winter in Central Europe means that the presence of constant cold weather, snow and, more dangerously, ice is a constant threat to the survival of the most vulnerable. With the additional factor of a war raging in the middle of everyone's lives, many have been driven out of their homes and forced to go on the run - many with nowhere to go meaning constant exposure to the harsh elements and a far greater struggle to survive. This risk manifests itself most literally when Ingrid falls through the ice in the middle of their attempt to escape, and when the majority of passengers on the sinking ship succumb, mostly, to hypothermia.

With the efforts of survival taking up everyone's energy, there is simply no...