What role does Mr. Persky play in the story and in Rosa's life? Is the ending a positive, hopeful, ending? Is Rosa transformed in some way by her interaction with Persky; does she change or have any realizations? What do you imagine happens after the book ends?
The ending is hopeful because Rosa is recovering, it’s a working progress she’s not one day going to move on from a lifetime of grieving. She will always be damaged. Mr. Persky was good for her, he is in a way bringing Rosa wakening her from thins ongoing nightmare. Rosa is used to people not supporting her emotionally so she tends to shield herself from letting people in like harmless Mr. Persky. She does this by labeling Mr. Persky a pervert, creepy,, desperate old man. By the end of the book she lets him in by showing him what was so special to her inside the box; Magda or should I say the shawl. By her doing this was a major break through her turning point in realizing that it is ok to move on with your own life and not be consumed with grief but to remember Magda from time to time. Rosa needed this connection to the real world without having someone judge or label her a number or crazy old lady. Mr. Persky is the friendship she needed to heal and finally start a new life to being normal.
