The Pianist

After his escape from the Umschlagplatz, Władysław encounters a relation who happens to be a Jewish policeman. He spends the night with the policeman and in the morning accepts a job from the Jewish Council. He works on a crew demolishing walls both within and outside the ghetto. In order to make some extra money, Władysław buys food and sells it at an increased ratewithin the ghetto. As he works, he encounters some old acquaintances, such as Tadeusz Blumental, a Jew who can pass as Aryan. Blumental offers to help Władysław escape, but the plan falls through when the people who promised to house Władysław discover he is a Jew. Władysław also encounters Jan Dworakowski, leader of the Warsaw Philharmonic, who informs Władysław directly that he will never see his family again.

Realizing that his family is fated to die, Władysław goes about his days “as if in a dream” (113). One day, a policeman stops Władysław’s crew to make a “selection” (114). Those on the right side of the group will live (including Władysław), while the policeman shoots all of those on the left side.

The Germans post announcements to state that 300,000 have been “resettled” and 100,000 are still left in the ghetto (114).