All the Light We Cannot See
Entombed
by Anthony, Doerr,The chapter “Entombed” follows Werner as he listens to a French broadcast of *20,000 Leagues Under the Sea*, where the crew of the *Nautilus* battles giant squid after being trapped in ice. The vivid descriptions mirror Werner’s own dire situation, creating a parallel between the submarine’s struggle and his entrapment in a cellar amid rubble. The tension escalates as Captain Nemo emerges, signaling grave danger, much like Werner’s own precarious reality. The reading serves as a haunting backdrop to the unfolding drama, blending literature with the characters’ immediate peril.
Werner, injured and desperate, drags a radio and battery to Volkheimer, placing headphones over the unresponsive man’s ears. He recounts the submarine’s fight against the squid, lamenting that Volkheimer cannot understand the French transmission. The scene underscores Werner’s isolation and his futile attempt to share the story’s beauty amid chaos. His words reveal deeper layers—Volkheimer’s silence suggests prior knowledge of Werner’s discovery of the broadcast, hinting at unspoken complicity or resignation.
The narrative shifts as Werner confesses to Volkheimer that the supposed “terrorist” radio signal was merely an old man and a girl. His anguish peaks when he reveals the girl’s pleas for help, fearing her imminent death. The crumbling rubble around them mirrors the *Nautilus* under siege, amplifying Werner’s sense of helplessness. His despair is palpable as he realizes his efforts to save the girl may have been in vain, trapped in a metaphorical and literal tomb.
The chapter closes with Werner resigning himself to his fate, sitting beside the battery as the broadcast continues to describe the crew’s violent struggle. The musk-filled air and flailing axes echo the suffocating tension in the cellar. Volkheimer’s silence and Werner’s resignation blur the line between survival and surrender, leaving the reader with a haunting meditation on duty, futility, and the thin line between life and death.
FAQs
1. What book is Marie-Laure reading in this chapter, and how does its plot parallel Werner’s current situation?
Answer:
Marie-Laure is reading Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, specifically a passage where the submarine Nautilus is trapped by icebergs and attacked by giant squid. This parallels Werner’s physical entrapment in the cellar during the bombing, as both scenarios involve characters confined in a dangerous, claustrophobic space facing imminent peril. The submarine’s struggle against external forces mirrors Werner’s psychological and physical struggle amid the destruction around him, emphasizing themes of confinement and survival.2. How does Werner attempt to connect with Volkheimer in this chapter, and what does this reveal about their relationship?
Answer:
Werner places headphones on Volkheimer so he can hear Marie-Laure’s broadcast, sharing the story with him despite knowing Volkheimer doesn’t understand French. This act reveals Werner’s desperation for companionship and moral support in their dire situation. It also highlights the unspoken bond between them—Werner trusts Volkheimer enough to confess his prior knowledge about the “terrorist” radio broadcasts, though Volkheimer remains unresponsive. Their dynamic shifts from military hierarchy to a more vulnerable, human connection amid shared trauma.3. Analyze the significance of Werner’s realization: “I saved her only to hear her die.” How does this reflect his internal conflict?
Answer:
This line captures Werner’s anguish over his failed attempt to protect Marie-Laure. He located her broadcasts (which he was tasked to destroy) but now realizes his efforts were futile as she faces death in the bombing. It reflects his moral conflict between duty and conscience, as well as his powerlessness against war’s destruction. The irony of “saving” her only to witness her impending doom underscores the cruelty of their circumstances and Werner’s growing disillusionment with the Nazi regime’s missions.4. What symbolic role does darkness play in this chapter, particularly in relation to the Nautilus metaphor?
Answer:
Darkness symbolizes both physical and psychological entrapment. Werner feels “trapped inside the Nautilus,” linking Marie-Laure’s reading to his own experience of being buried in the cellar. The literal darkness of the rubble mirrors his despair and isolation, while the submarine’s icy tomb represents the inescapable consequences of war. The imagery of squid lashing the hull extends this metaphor, suggesting unseen horrors (guilt, fear, or violence) attacking from all sides, leaving no room for escape or clarity.5. Why might the author juxtapose Marie-Laure’s calm reading with the chaos of the bombing? What effect does this create?
Answer:
The contrast between Marie-Laure’s composed storytelling and the surrounding destruction heightens the chapter’s tension and thematic irony. Her reading about fictional survival contrasts with the characters’ very real fight for survival, emphasizing the persistence of humanity (art, stories) even in devastation. It also creates a surreal, dreamlike quality, blurring the line between narrative escapism and harsh reality. This juxtaposition underscores how individuals seek meaning or distraction in crises, while war’s violence relentlessly intrudes.
Quotes
1. “Who could possibly calculate the minimum time required for us to get out? Might we not be asphyxiated before the Nautilus could surface? Was it destined to perish in this tomb of ice along with all those on board? The situation seemed terrible. But everyone faced it squarely and decided to do their duty to the end …”
This quote from the book Marie-Laure is reading mirrors the dire situation Werner and Volkheimer find themselves in—trapped and facing imminent danger. It underscores the themes of entrapment and resilience that permeate the chapter.
2. “She’s using the transmitter we were supposed to find. I found it. Weeks ago. They said it was a network of terrorists, but it was just an old man and a girl.”
This revelation by Werner highlights the tragic irony of their mission and the innocence of those they were sent to hunt. It marks a turning point in Werner’s understanding of the war’s dehumanizing propaganda.
3. “I saved her only to hear her die.”
This poignant statement captures Werner’s despair and helplessness as he listens to Marie-Laure’s distress signals. It reflects the cruel paradox of his efforts to protect her while being powerless to change her fate.
4. “The first mate struggled furiously with other monsters which were climbing up the sides of the Nautilus. The crew were flailing away with their axes. Ned, Conseil and I also dug our weapons into their soft bodies. A violent odor of musk filled the air.”
This vivid description from the book parallels the chaos and violence surrounding Werner and Volkheimer. It serves as a metaphor for their own battle against the monstrous realities of war closing in on them.