With the two story lines in Sarah's Key, one strong quest occurs. The first element of a quest, the quester, is fulfilled by Julia Jarmond, an American expatriate living in France. Julia sets out on a quest to find out the truth about Sarah Starzynski and her fate. Her motivation for the quest initially is a piece she is asked to write to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Vel d'Hiv roundup. However, as Julia develops a more personal connection with Sarah, she is impelled by her own emotions to find and make peace with Sarah.
Julia encounters many challenges and trials while on her journey, which are another essential element to any true quest. Logistically, she has a difficult time tracing Sarah. Not only is there little physical information for her to use, but Julia also struggles with getting the French to discuss the roundup because it has remained taboo for years. Determination and persistence allow Julia overcome this obstacle and continue on her quest by eventually uncovering the information necessary to trace Sarah. The quester Julia faces another trial once she has finally traced Sarah; she is no longer alive. Yet, Julia overcomes this obstacle as well by tracking down her son William and making peace with him.
Like every quest, Julia's real reason for her quest is self knowledge. Julia discovers a lot about herself while on her quest to discover more about Sarah. For example, she comes to the realization that she must divorce her husband and keep the baby she is carrying. Julia entered her quest as a middle- aged woman on the brink of a mid-life crisis, but emerged as a more independent and self aware person. In this way, her quest-essentially the entire novel of Sarah's Key- transformed Julia and shaped the rest of her life.
Julia encounters many challenges and trials while on her journey, which are another essential element to any true quest. Logistically, she has a difficult time tracing Sarah. Not only is there little physical information for her to use, but Julia also struggles with getting the French to discuss the roundup because it has remained taboo for years. Determination and persistence allow Julia overcome this obstacle and continue on her quest by eventually uncovering the information necessary to trace Sarah. The quester Julia faces another trial once she has finally traced Sarah; she is no longer alive. Yet, Julia overcomes this obstacle as well by tracking down her son William and making peace with him.
Like every quest, Julia's real reason for her quest is self knowledge. Julia discovers a lot about herself while on her quest to discover more about Sarah. For example, she comes to the realization that she must divorce her husband and keep the baby she is carrying. Julia entered her quest as a middle- aged woman on the brink of a mid-life crisis, but emerged as a more independent and self aware person. In this way, her quest-essentially the entire novel of Sarah's Key- transformed Julia and shaped the rest of her life.