Schindler’s List

Schindler’s List

by

Thomas Keneally

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Schindler’s List makes teaching easy.

Mrs. Dresner Character Analysis

Mrs. Dresner is Genia’s aunt, Juda Dresner’s wife, and Danka Dresner and Janek Dresner’s mother. During the liquidation of the ghetto, she has a close call when her neighbors, who promised they had a fake wall to hide behind, will only allow Danka to hide behind the wall, not Mrs. Dresner. Mrs. Dresner and Danka endure even worse hardships when many of the “Schindler women” are first sent to Auschwitz instead of Brinnlitz. But ultimately, Schindler saves most of the Dresner family.
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Mrs. Dresner Character Timeline in Schindler’s List

The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Dresner appears in Schindler’s List. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 12
Virtue and Selflessness Theme Icon
Anti-Semitism and Dehumanization Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Duty Theme Icon
Bureaucracy Theme Icon
...the countryside since the SS are offering rewards to people who betray their Jewish neighbors. Mrs. Dresner tells the girl that her real parents are hiding and will eventually come to Cracow.... (full context)
Chapter 16
Virtue and Selflessness Theme Icon
Anti-Semitism and Dehumanization Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Duty Theme Icon
Bureaucracy Theme Icon
...vulnerable to being taken away to a camp. When SS soldiers come to her neighborhood, Mrs. Dresner takes Danka next door to a neighbor with a false wall. The neighbor’s elderly parents... (full context)
Virtue and Selflessness Theme Icon
Anti-Semitism and Dehumanization Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Duty Theme Icon
Bureaucracy Theme Icon
Mrs. Dresner tells Danka to hide with the neighbor’s parents behind the fake wall. Since she has... (full context)
Chapter 31
Virtue and Selflessness Theme Icon
Anti-Semitism and Dehumanization Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Bureaucracy Theme Icon
...take bribes, including one from Juda Dresner, the uncle of “red Genia” and husband of Mrs. Dresner (who hadn’t been allowed to hide in the wall). (full context)