The Devil’s Arithmetic

by

Jane Yolen

Chimneys Symbol Analysis

Chimneys Symbol Icon

The chimneys symbolize the dehumanizing, industrialized way that the Nazis tried to bring about the death of Jewish people. In peacetime, chimneys could be used either during the process of burning coal for energy or during the process of incinerating trash. In the camps, though, the chimneys and the incinerators they’re connected to are where the Nazis burn the bodies of murdered Jewish prisoners. And so, the chimneys at the concentration camp reveal how the Nazis viewed their Jewish prisoners as both energy sources and trash, working them to death and then disposing of their bodies without acknowledging their value as fellow humans. For much of Hannah’s time at the concentration camp, the chimneys are a grim reminder of how close death is not just for her but for all of the other prisoners.

Chimneys Quotes in The Devil’s Arithmetic

The The Devil’s Arithmetic quotes below all refer to the symbol of Chimneys. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Memory Theme Icon
).
Chapter 16 Quotes

The commandant stood up and stared at her, his eyes gray and unreadable. “Are you his sister?”

She shook her head dumbly, afraid to say more.

“That is good. For you.”

Related Characters: The Commandant (speaker), Hannah/Chaya, Yitzchak, Reuven
Related Symbols: Chimneys
Page Number: 144
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 18 Quotes

When it was silent at last, the commandant threw the shoes on top of Fayge’s body. “Let them all go up the stack,” he said. “Call the Kommandos. Schnell!”

Related Characters: The Commandant (speaker), Hannah/Chaya, Rivka/Aunt Eva , Shmuel, Fayge, Grandpa Will
Related Symbols: Chimneys
Page Number: 159
Explanation and Analysis:

The memories of Lublin and the shtetl and the camp itself suddenly seemed like the dreams. She lived, had lived, would live in the future—she, or someone with whom she shared memories. But Rivka had only now.

Related Characters: Hannah/Chaya, Rivka/Aunt Eva , Shifre, Esther
Related Symbols: Chimneys
Page Number: 159
Explanation and Analysis:

Then all three of them took deep, ragged breaths and walked in through the door into endless night.

Related Characters: Hannah/Chaya, Rivka/Aunt Eva , Grandpa Will, Shifre, Esther
Related Symbols: Chimneys
Page Number: 160
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Devil’s Arithmetic LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Devil’s Arithmetic PDF

Chimneys Symbol Timeline in The Devil’s Arithmetic

The timeline below shows where the symbol Chimneys appears in The Devil’s Arithmetic. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 13
Jewish Culture and Identity Theme Icon
...have discipline. As he talks, Hannah sees smoke in the distance coming out of a chimney. Hannah looks at Gitl, and Gitl gently touches her hand. (full context)
Chapter 14
Memory Theme Icon
Jewish Culture and Identity Theme Icon
...the daytime. Rivka tells Hannah that every member of her family was burned in the chimney for various reasons—the Nazis’ “brutal arithmetic”—except for a brother named Wolfe who is nearly dead.... (full context)
Sacrifice Theme Icon
...sent to “the line”—the one for people who will be killed and go up the chimneys of the gas ovens. (full context)
Chapter 16
Memory Theme Icon
Sacrifice Theme Icon
That evening, smoke comes out of the chimneys. Reuven doesn’t come back, and Hannah feels she’s responsible. Rivka assures Hannah that she did... (full context)
Hope Theme Icon
...fight back against the Nazis, figuring it’s better to die that way than in the chimneys. But Rivka says they have no weapons, so their best option is to keep working... (full context)
Chapter 18
Memory Theme Icon
Jewish Culture and Identity Theme Icon
...his men to fire, then he tells them to dispose of the bodies in the chimneys. (full context)