Hitler's Daughter

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of religious discrimination, antisemitism, graphic violence, emotional abuse, and death.

Mark is the protagonist of Hitler’s Daughter, and his character is shaped by his interactions with the people around him and the story Anna tells. Mark lives in a rural area, where, at first, he spends his time wondering about cows and whether they can sneeze. This shows his inquisitive nature early on and is the first demonstration that Mark understands The Importance of Questioning. At first, Mark finds the idea of making up a story about a real person’s daughter unsettling and strange: “But we can’t have a story about something that’s not real” (8). He gradually becomes more immersed in Heidi’s world and begins asking big questions about complicated philosophical topics like morality and justice. He struggles with the idea that Hitler could love anyone and asks his father what he would do if he killed someone.

These questions show that Mark is beginning to understand that good versus evil and right versus wrong are not always simple. He is relentless and brings up the issue of Hitler repeatedly, to the point where he frustrates his parents.