As the main character and narrator of The Hiding Place, we see the
events of World War II and her early life through her eyes. She is an
extraordinary woman who presents her story in a very humble way, striving
to emphasize that she was always an instrument of God. Her early life
molded her into a deeply religious woman who still had doubts at times
as to what God's plan for her really was. Nonetheless, she faced disappointments
in her life, like the loss of Karel, the only man she every loved, with
the belief that God would provide her with comfort and safety. Later,
she learned many times over from Betsie's example that God would never
leave her and that all the evil that existed around them would be dealt
with by God in His time. Her deep devotion later took her all around the
world to spread the Truth of God's Word as she had come to know it in
Nazi prisons. Her story fulfills her sister's dream: that everyone should
know what happened to them there, and how God never abandoned them.
This character is given by Corrie an almost saintly description. She learned
early in her life that her weak heart would never allow her to have children,
so she chose to never marry and to instead provide a home for her father
and Corrie and also to meet the needs of the less fortunate. When she
was arrested along with Corrie and her father, she decided that it was
a golden opportunity to tell others about God. Corrie said she faced the
most horrible conditions with optimism and gratitude that God in some
way, which they could not yet see, had placed those miseries there. She
even is the object of miraculous occurrences: the tiny vitamin bottle
she needed to stay well in prison never seemed to empty; she accurately
predicted the release date for her and Corrie, even though her release
was to be death; she saw the mansion owned by Mrs. Bierens de Haan exactly
the way it looked inside and out even though she had never been there;
she knew that Corrie would open a former concentration camp as a home
where those damaged by war could come for healing and forgiveness; and
she foresaw that Corrie would carry their message throughout the world.
In the end, the most awesome miracle is reserved for her as her face changes
after her death from misery lines and a skeletal appearance to one of
youth, good health, strength, and freedom. It is her story that everyone
becomes hungry to hear when Corrie begins to speak about their experiences.
She had witnessed for God, and her love for Him lives on long after she
died.
This character is known as Father (to Corrie and Betsie), Opa, or grandfather
to children, and the Grand Old Man of Haarlem. He was a very devout Christian
who lived his life in Christ's example. He was kind to everyone, even
the most difficult among us to love. He opened his home to foster children
and later, to Jews and political prisoners fleeing from the Nazis. He
was a source of inspiration to everyone who knew him, and he always stood
up for what he believed. Even before the Nazi invasion, his community
had grown to love him for his kind gestures to everyone he met or who
lived there. In the end, his refusal to close his home to those in need
led to his death, but his great example lives on in The Hiding Place.
This story is an autobiography written by Corrie ten Boom with the help of
John and Elizabeth Sherrill. It begins in 1937 with the 100th anniversary
of the ten Boom watch shop, but this is followed by a flashback to Corrie's
childhood growing up in the Beje. After the flashback, the plot follows
chronological order as Corrie relates the events of the invasion of Holland,
the family's involvement in the underground, the raid on their home and
subsequent imprisonment of Corrie, Betsie, and Father, and finally, Corrie's
ministry after the war. It ends with Corrie's death in 1983.
This part of the autobiography occurs from the beginning with the celebration
of the 100 years the watch shop had been in business, through a flashback
of Corrie's life at the Beje, through her and Betsie's experiences in
prison, to Betsie's death at Ravensbruck.
This part of the story takes place from the time Corrie is released from Ravensbruck
until she discovers her true purpose to carry on Betsie's dream and bring
healing and the word of God to people in need.
The point of view is first person as it is told entirely from the recollections of Corrie ten Boom. We see all the characters through her eyes and understand the events of the time as she saw them.
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Cite this page:
Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on The Hiding Place".
TheBestNotes.com.
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