Emilie Schindler Character Analysis

Emilie Schindler is a patient, religious woman who married Oskar Schindler at relatively young age and who has a similar temperament to Schindler’s mother. Emilie and Oskar live together in Zwittau until Oskar heads out for Cracow, leaving Emilie behind. Although Emilie is aware of Oskar’s multiple affairs (including with his German mistress, Ingrid, and his Polish secretary, Klonowska), she remains devoted to Oskar, even as she seems to privately disapprove of some of his choices. After visiting Oskar briefly in Cracow, Emilie remains in Zwittau until Oskar comes back to build his new Brinnlitz camp nearby. There, she moves back into an apartment with Oskar (who gives up some of his old affairs but who continues to take new lovers). Though Oskar will get the majority of the credit for his camp’s success—in part because of his magnetic personality—Emilie plays a crucial role behind the scenes, in particular using her training as a nurse to tend to inmates. Though Emilie may seem subservient to Oskar, she also demonstrates independence throughout the book. After the war, Oskar runs a failed business in Brazil before heading back to Germany, and Emilie stays behind in Brazil and builds her own life without Oskar.