This paper analyzes Eva Stachniak's novel Necessary Lies, tracing its protagonist Anna's journey from communist Poland to Canada and the personal and historical forces that shape her decisions. The paper situates the novel within the broader context of post-World War II Poland, the Soviet transformation of Breslau into Wroclaw, and the suppression of anti-communist protests in 1968. It also examines the novel's secondary characters — particularly William and his mother Kathe — to illuminate how Nazi ideology, inherited lies, and displaced identities intersect. The paper concludes that deception functions as a survival mechanism across the novel's multiple storylines.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and this is perfectly illustrated in Eva Stachniak's novel Necessary Lies. The author presents Anna, a Polish woman, as she struggles to make changes in her life after her country does everything it can to subject her to communism and its absurd laws.
Even if the writer does not explicitly invite her readers to believe that the novel has any autobiographical connection, one might get the impression that certain parts of the book draw from her own life. Both Eva and her novel's protagonist are born in the aftermath of the Second World War, and both have difficulty adapting to the communist system that had taken hold in Poland at the time. Eva studied at a university in Wroclaw, Poland, and later continued her education at a university in Montreal, Canada. After earning her Ph.D., she married and remained in Canada.
The city of Wroclaw, formerly known as Breslau, had been primarily inhabited by people of German descent prior to the end of the Second World War. With Germany having lost the war and the Allies moving in to restore order in previously occupied territories, most Germans felt compelled to flee westward. Despite the fact that Breslau had been largely occupied by Germans since the Mongol invasions of the thirteenth century, it was clear that circumstances would change with the German capitulation. The Soviets' gaining control over all of Poland, including Breslau, meant that most of the German population had either retreated to the German heartland or been evacuated by the invading Soviet forces.
As tensions built in Breslau, more and more individuals expressed a desire to transform German Breslau into Polish Wroclaw. Even so, it took more than a decade for the city to forge its new identity, as the Polish government underwent enormous economic and social efforts to rebuild the state.1
Although the Polish had considered the WWII ordeal to be over with the German retreat, communism forced them to reconsider within just a few years. Intellectuals were most often at the forefront of anti-communist protests, unable to bear the pressure the system imposed on them. The general public remains largely unaware that such protests occurred in Poland. Nevertheless, people did take to the streets there to condemn communism and its sphere of influence. It appears that no outside power was willing to intervene at the time, as communism in Eastern Europe was living through its years of apparent glory.
Growing up in post-war Poland was not easy. For those who had to remain in a city formerly inhabited by Germans, life was especially difficult. Despite the presumed prosperity found in the city, people could not enjoy it fully, as the land's memory haunted everyone. German engravings visible throughout the city reminded its new inhabitants of the horrors that had taken place there and of how much time would have to pass before things could return to normal. It is possible that some Polish people in Wroclaw never fully reached the point where they felt the city completely belonged to them. Stachniak captures some of these moments through Anna's character, who grows up in Wroclaw without ever developing a genuine fondness for it. Even after she leaves her home, Anna shows no sign of regret — despite having also left her husband behind.
The Polish people fought a largely futile battle against an overwhelming force, and, as might have been expected, their struggle yielded little. The iron grip of communism swiftly silenced anyone who showed the slightest sign of dissent. Despite the fact that both students and professors were harshly repressed following their protests in March 1968, no one in the West seemed to take notice. Eva Stachniak references these 1968 demonstrations, condemning communist supporters and, essentially, all those who failed to act in solidarity with the activists.2
Throughout the entire period of Soviet influence, the Polish people expressed their unwillingness to accept communist ideology through a variety of means. The Solidarity trade union federation was formed in 1980, born out of the public's desire for a credible anti-Soviet movement on the political scene. The government moved rapidly against the group, attempting to destroy it through the imposition of martial law in 1981. Apparently, the government was not as powerful as its leaders believed, and its actions did little to improve its position. The novel's main character, Anna, did not become involved in the chaos that Poland was experiencing in the 1980s, as she was given the opportunity to continue her studies in English at a university in Canada. Driven by her torment under communism and by the prospect of life in the Western world, Anna abandoned everything she had in order to leave.
The Nazis had been renowned for their determination to hold their ground even when defeat was certain, and even as stories of atrocities committed by their enemies spread. When no hope remained for the Germans, Hitler ordered that no one should surrender — they were to fight to the last man. Breslau was thus transformed into Fortress Breslau, and anyone attempting to flee the city was executed on sight. Moreover, even speaking of defeat was forbidden, as the act was considered treason — and was punishable by death.3
"Anna emigrates and rediscovers her Polish heritage in Canada"
"Nazi ideology's lasting trauma on William and his mother"
"Deception as survival across all characters' storylines"
When Anna finally decides to break up with Piotr, she offers no reasons for her decision, simply claiming that she has fallen in love with someone else. This proves to be too much for Piotr, who cannot conceive how something like this can simply happen. Anna's mother also finds it difficult to accept her daughter's choice. Even so, her objection stems less from any principled defense of marriage than from the fact that Anna is leaving her husband for someone who formerly lived in Breslau. Beyond that, she considers that Anna has overstepped when she decides to befriend a German — particularly given the suffering that Germans had inflicted upon their people.
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